Emily Lakdawalla • Aug 15, 2016
Photos: OSIRIS-REx prepares for launch
Only 24 days remain until the opening of OSIRIS-REx's launch period, and final preparations are underway. There is a lot to do in the final months before a launch, but things seem to be going well, according to what I can see from the NASA Kennedy photo album and principal investigator Dante Lauretta's Twitter feed. There is a televised briefing scheduled for Wednesday. Here are just a few photos and bits of news from the last several weeks:
![Inspecting the inside of the OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule](https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_2400x1600_crop_center-center_82_line/20160812_28592725530_6d47f6667a_o.jpg 2400w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_1200x800_crop_center-center_82_line/20160812_28592725530_6d47f6667a_o.jpg 1200w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_768x512_crop_center-center_60_line/20160812_28592725530_6d47f6667a_o.jpg 768w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_576x384_crop_center-center_60_line/20160812_28592725530_6d47f6667a_o.jpg 576w)
![Covering OSIRIS-REx in blankets](https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_2400x1600_crop_center-center_82_line/20160812_28152131613_516dd1724c_o.jpg 2400w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_1200x800_crop_center-center_82_line/20160812_28152131613_516dd1724c_o.jpg 1200w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_768x512_crop_center-center_82_line/20160812_28152131613_516dd1724c_o.jpg 768w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_576x384_crop_center-center_82_line/20160812_28152131613_516dd1724c_o.jpg 576w)
![OSIRIS-REx's Centaur](https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_2400x1600_crop_center-center_82_line/20160812_27954860273_ec161b5e81_o.jpg 2400w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_1200x800_crop_center-center_82_line/20160812_27954860273_ec161b5e81_o.jpg 1200w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_768x512_crop_center-center_60_line/20160812_27954860273_ec161b5e81_o.jpg 768w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_576x384_crop_center-center_60_line/20160812_27954860273_ec161b5e81_o.jpg 576w)
Another milestone for @OSIRISREx - We are "Go" to load the rocket fuel onto the Spacecraft!
— Dante Lauretta (@DSLauretta) August 3, 2016
![OSIRIS-REx's rocket is lifted into position](https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_2400x3470_crop_center-center_82_line/20160813_osirex_atlas.jpg 2400w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_1200x1735_crop_center-center_82_line/20160813_osirex_atlas.jpg 1200w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_768x1110_crop_center-center_60_line/20160813_osirex_atlas.jpg 768w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_576x832_crop_center-center_60_line/20160813_osirex_atlas.jpg 576w)
The @OSIRISREx solar panels have been installed for flight - the last mechanical installation for the spacecraft pic.twitter.com/BrLNu30RvJ
— Dante Lauretta (@DSLauretta) August 9, 2016
The Solid Rocket Motor (SRM) was mated to the @OSIRISREx Atlas V first stage yesterday. We are flying a 411 configuration with a single SRM.
— Dante Lauretta (@DSLauretta) August 10, 2016
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