Atlas V OSIRIS-REx Launch Highlights

An Atlas V rocket carrying the OSIRIS-REx probe successfully launched yesterday, September 8th, sending it’s payload on a course that will eventually, in 2018, bring it to the asteriod Bennu, a rocky body believed to contain large quantities of organic molecules, heavy metals, and other useful materials with a goal of returning a sample of this material to Earth for future research on both the origins of our solar system, the possible origins of life on Earth, and practical asteroid mining techniques. This is one of those “try to learn everything we can” kind of missions, which are probably the most fun to watch pan out.

Here, I present the United Launch Alliance “Launch Highlights” video, showing beautiful shots of the Atlas V in flight. This was the rarely used 411 configuration of Atlas V, which used one single solid rocket booster – this, you would think, would throw off the thrust balance of the vehicle, but everything is designed in such a way that this works without issue, which amazes me. It really is a unique variant when in flight.

Of note in this video is near the end, when the 1st stage separates and the RL-10 engine on the Centaur stage ignites – it’s one of the best rocket staging views I’ve ever seen!

For more information on OSIRIS-REx, visit these links:
http://www.asteroidmission.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSIRIS-REx