OSIRIS-APEX recently completed a successful close flyby to the Sun, thanks to changes made to its photovoltaic panels. The spacecraft was able to fly closer to the Sun than originally planned, reaching 40 million km from it in order to reach asteroid Apophis for an extended mission. This new mission requires OSIRIS-APEX to fly much closer to the Sun than it was designed for, but the team is confident that the spacecraft will be able to reach its destination on time.
To prepare for the intense radiation during the close flyby, one of the photovoltaic panels was collapsed to protect sensitive equipment while the remaining panel provided power to the spacecraft. This solution proved effective and confirmed earlier computer simulations. Telemetry data showed that after the flyby, the spacecraft was in good condition and even better than expected due to high temperatures. The onboard camera worked exceptionally well despite these conditions.
The next close flyby of the Sun is scheduled for September 1st, and OSIRIS-APEX will continue flying closer to it than originally planned. However, with careful monitoring by a dedicated team, safety measures have been put in place and they remain optimistic about OSIRIS-APEX’s ability to complete its mission successfully and reach asteroid Apophis in 2029.
