OSIRIS-REx Mission has been Extended for Visit to Second Asteroid

NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission has been extended for a visit to a second asteroid after the spacecraft swings by Earth to deliver its first payload. The new mission, which will be renamed OSIRIS-APEX, will study near-Earth asteroid Apophis for 18 months. Apophis will make a close approach to Earth in 2029.

"Apophis is one of the most infamous asteroids … It g…