OSIRIS-REx Forever Stamp 2023
The 2023 USPS Forever stamp marks a historic moment in space exploration, commemorating the triumphant return of NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which achieved the remarkable feat of collecting a sample from the asteroid Bennu.
Crafted to celebrate this extraordinary achievement, the stamp features an artist's depiction of the capsule containing the precious asteroid sample descending to Earth amidst the vast expanse of the Utah Test and Training Range. Alan Dingman, utilizing reference images from NASA, masterfully brought this pivotal moment to life in the stamp's artwork.
Adding to its allure, the stamp pane showcases a captivating image of Bennu's surface in the selvage, juxtaposed against the backdrop of outer space. Additionally, four milestone images highlighting key moments in the OSIRIS-REx mission adorn the left side of the pane, offering a visual narrative of its journey. On the reverse side, a detailed description provided by NASA elucidates the mission's significance.
The stamp's First Day of Issue Ceremony held in Salt Lake City, Utah, pays homage to the region's proximity to the landing site of OSIRIS-REx's capsule, approximately 80 miles west of the city.
The OSIRIS-REx mission, aptly named for its objectives of Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security ?C Regolith Explorer, embarked on its ambitious quest in 2016. After a two-year journey, the spacecraft reached Bennu in December 2018, equipped with sophisticated instruments to meticulously study and map the asteroid's surface.
Following extensive mapping and sample site assessments, OSIRIS-REx executed a precision touch-and-go maneuver in October 2020, deftly collecting a sample by releasing a puff of nitrogen gas to stir up debris. Despite some challenges during the process, including sample loss on the return flight, OSIRIS-REx successfully retrieved over two ounces of material, marking a groundbreaking milestone in asteroid exploration and securing its place in the annals of space exploration history.
