The name OSIRIS-REx is in the air around here. And no it is not a dinosaur. It's a UA spacecraft on a mission to discover the origins of life and maybe save Earth from total annihilation ... nbd.
OSIRIS-REx, aka Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer, will blast off in a few days to retrieve a sample of the asteroid Bennu. When OSIRIS-REx returns to Earth in 2023, experts will analyze the contents of the asteroid to answer questions about how asteroids affect Earth and — fingers crossed — the origins of life.
- Watch an interactive timeline of the mission here.
The mission's principal investigator is Dante Lauretta, a University of Arizona professor and an expert in near-Earth asteroids. He and the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory conceived the mission and are running it for NASA.
OSIRIS-REx is set to launch on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Even though the launch is in Florida, you can join the excitement with events around Tucson.
WEDNESDAY
Have a space dinner at Maynards Market & Kitchen with space aliens, a raffle and star gazing. Check out the menu for the night here.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 7, 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Where: Maynards Market & Kitchen, 400 N. Toole Ave.
Cost: $45 per person
- Make sure to mention space dinner when you make your reservation.
THURSDAY - LAUNCH DAY
Watch the launch in Flandrau's newly-renovated Eos Foundation Planetarium Theater. This is free, but it's a first-come, first-serve basis so get there early.
If you didn't get to watch the launch, stay for Asteroid: Mission Extreme, where you get to journey to an asteroid. There will be two showings of that film at 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. for $3 per person.
When: Thursday, Sept. 8, 3:30 p.m. (launch is at 4:05 p.m. Tucson time)
Where: Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium, 1601 E. University Blvd.
Cost: Launch viewing is free and Asteroid: Mission Extreme is $3 per ticket.
If you didn't get to watch the launch, stay for Asteroid: Mission Extreme, where you get to journey to an asteroid. There will be two showings…
At Hotel Congress's launch party you can watch a livestream of the launch, meet aliens and see some art.
When: Thursday, Sept. 8, 4 p.m. (launch is at 4:05 p.m. Tucson time) to 10 p.m.
Where: Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.
Cost: Free
OTHER LAUNCH PARTIES
There will also be smaller launch parties on the UA Mall, Patterson Observatory in Sierra Vista, Borderlands Brewing Company and Main Gate Square.
FRIDAY
Bear Down Fridays will be out of this world with an inflatable 6-foot Earth, an astronaut photo booth and activities. Go to Gentle Ben's and Auld Dubliner for space-themed food and drinks.
Get super pumped for the first home football game of the year.
When: Friday, September 9, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Main Gate Square, 814 E. University Blvd.
Cost: Free
