project brief
Rocket Technologies International (RTI), in collaboration with the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) and NASA’s SCIFLI program, supported the historic re-entry observation of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule. Launched in 2016, OSIRIS-REx travelled to the near-Earth asteroid Bennu, collected rock and dust samples in 2020, and delivered them back to Earth on 24 September 2023.
RTI and UniSQ deployed airborne and ground-based observation platforms to capture precision data during the capsule’s fiery re-entry - providing NASA with critical insights into vehicle performance and atmospheric entry dynamics.
category
Airborne Observation
client
NASA
start date
May 2, 2022
The Challenge
Observing a hypersonic re-entry is an immense technical challenge:
• Precision timing: The capsule crossed the sky in minutes – leaving a narrow window for data collection.
• Project complexity: Coordinating aircraft, ground stations, and custom-built instruments across multiple continents.
• Environmental extremes: Instruments had to perform flawlessly under vibration, altitude, temperature swings, and rapid targeting requirements.
NASA required an observation partner capable of integrating advanced sensors, conducting flight planning, and delivering reliable data under these demanding conditions, and RTI delivered.
Our Contributions
• Deployed a Falcon 900 aircraft with five instrument windows, providing clear, multi-angle coverage of the re-entry path.
• Integrated custom spectral and tracking systems, including GPS and azimuth/elevation encoders, for precise event measurement.
• Coordinated three ground stations and multiple NASA aircraft to achieve overlapping observational coverage.
• Conducted in-flight calibrations, including star tracking and dry-run observation passes, to validate sensor performance prior to re-entry.
• Captured high-fidelity data from entry interface through peak heating and descent, enabling detailed analysis of the thermal protection system.
the result
The campaign successfully recorded one of the most significant re-entry events in planetary science. The collected data is now supporting NASA’s analysis of the capsule’s performance and the refinement of future sample-return missions.
For clients in aerospace, research, and defence, this project highlights RTI’s unique ability to deliver end-to-end support for high-stakes observation campaigns – enabling science teams to make discoveries that expand humanity’s understanding of the solar system.
The Challenge
Observing a hypersonic re-entry is an immense technical challenge:
• Precision timing: The capsule crossed the sky in minutes – leaving a narrow window for data collection.
• Project complexity: Coordinating aircraft, ground stations, and custom-built instruments across multiple continents.
• Environmental extremes: Instruments had to perform flawlessly under vibration, altitude, temperature swings, and rapid targeting requirements.
NASA required an observation partner capable of integrating advanced sensors, conducting flight planning, and delivering reliable data under these demanding conditions, and RTI delivered.
Our Contributions
• Deployed a Falcon 900 aircraft with five instrument windows, providing clear, multi-angle coverage of the re-entry path.
• Integrated custom spectral and tracking systems, including GPS and azimuth/elevation encoders, for precise event measurement.
• Coordinated three ground stations and multiple NASA aircraft to achieve overlapping observational coverage.
• Conducted in-flight calibrations, including star tracking and dry-run observation passes, to validate sensor performance prior to re-entry.
• Captured high-fidelity data from entry interface through peak heating and descent, enabling detailed analysis of the thermal protection system.
The Result
The campaign successfully recorded one of the most significant re-entry events in planetary science. The collected data is now supporting NASA’s analysis of the capsule’s performance and the refinement of future sample-return missions.
For clients in aerospace, research, and defence, this project highlights RTI’s unique ability to deliver end-to-end support for high-stakes observation campaigns – enabling science teams to make discoveries that expand humanity’s understanding of the solar system.
Other Achievements
HeRTS delivers the infrastructure and expertise needed to move from concept to launch with confidence.
RTI captured world-first data from Hayabusa2’s 12 km/s re-entry, proving high value information.
Other Achievements
RTI captured world-first data from Hayabusa2’s 12 km/s re-entry, proving high value information.
HeRTS delivers the infrastructure and expertise needed to move from concept to launch with confidence.
RTI, with UniSQ and partners, captured world-first airborne data on the 2022 Tau Herculids meteor storm.
RTI captured high-precision re-entry from start to finish, airborne and ground data of the OSIRIS-REx capsule.
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