PLANETARY SCIENCE · IN FLIGHT

Tern SR-1

Carbonaceous near-Earth asteroid sample-return mission.

IN FLIGHTCURRENT STATUS

ASTEROID 2016 QN8PRIMARY TARGET

LAUNCHED 14 SEP 2023MISSION DATE

Tern SR-1 is a sample-return mission to carbonaceous near-Earth asteroid 2016 QN8. It will map surface composition, select a collection site and return at least 120 grams of primitive material to Earth.

The spacecraft uses solar-electric cruise propulsion and autonomous optical navigation. Sample custody and planetary-protection controls are managed by the Lunar and Small Bodies Sample Laboratory.

LATEST OPERATIONAL UPDATE

Optical-navigation campaign 7 completed on 30 June 2026 with target acquisition at 8.4 million kilometres.

MISSION PARAMETERS

Flight facts

Values are the current public mission baseline or the final recorded result.

01 · Launch14 SEP 2023

Launch

Asteria-M

02 · RendezvousNOV 2026

Rendezvous

Target window

03 · Target2016 QN8

Target

Carbonaceous NEO

04 · Sample minimum120 g

Sample minimum

Level-one requirement

05 · Earth returnSEP 2030

Earth return

Nominal profile

06 · StatusCRUISE

Status

All systems nominal

MISSION OBJECTIVES

Defined outcomes

Mission-level objectives are controlled through the approved program baseline.

01OBJECTIVE

Characterize asteroid 2016 QN8 at global and sampling-site scales.

Verification is recorded in mission operations and closeout documentation.

02OBJECTIVE

Collect at least 120 grams of documented carbonaceous material.

Verification is recorded in mission operations and closeout documentation.

03OBJECTIVE

Return a sealed sample capsule to Recovery Area 6.

Verification is recorded in mission operations and closeout documentation.

04OBJECTIVE

Release calibrated remote-sensing data and curated sample metadata.

Verification is recorded in mission operations and closeout documentation.

All missions Science data