OSIRIS-REx LPSC Media Telecon

Trailer for the OSIRIS-REx TAG EventUniversal Production Music: HazardsDuring its descent to site Nightingale, OSIRIS-REx could encounter several hazardous scenarios that would prevent it from collecting a sample of asteroid Bennu on its first attempt, including: Wave-Off, TAG on a boulder, and TAG on rocks.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab 1. Freund - TAGSAM ExplainedOSIRIS-REx descends to the surface of asteroid Bennu to collect a sample of fine-grained material from site Nightingale using its TAGSAM instrument.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab 2. Freund - Sample StowFollowing collection, OSIRIS-REx will stow its sample of asteroid Bennu for return to Earth in September 2023.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab 3. Freund - Sample ReturnWhen OSIRIS-REx returns to Earth, it will release the Sample Return Capsule for touchdown in the Utah desert on September 24, 2023.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab 5. Lauretta - Sample VerificationFollowing TAG, OSIRIS-REx will use SamCam to visually inspect the TAGSAM head and confirm that it has collected a sample from Bennu.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab 6. Lauretta - Sample Mass MeasurementAfter imaging the TAGSAM head, OSIRIS-REx will perform a spin maneuver with its TAGSAM arm extended to determine the mass of the collected sample.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab 7. Lauretta - Sample Return Capsule openingClose up of the OSIRIS-REx Sample Return Capsule opening, and the TAGSAM head becoming translucent to reveal material collected from asteroid Bennu.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab Slate for T-30 press briefingCredit: NASA/Goddard

The following video presents the press conference that corresponds with the slides that appear below. This event took place live at 2pm EST on December 10, 2018 at the American Geophysical Union conference in Washington DC. Watch this video on YouTube. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission presented the science results gained during the spacecraft’s approach toward the asteroid Bennu at a press conference hosted during AGU’s Fall Meeting at 2 p.m. ET, Monday, Dec. 10.The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft, which launched on Sept. 8, 2016, started asteroid science operations on Aug. 17, 2018, while still 1.4 million miles from the asteroid Bennu. Between that time and the spacecraft’s arrival at Bennu on Dec. 3, the mission made a number of discoveries about the asteroid. The mission represents a valuable opportunity to learn more about the origins of our solar system, the sources of water and organic molecules on Earth, and the hazards and resources in near-Earth space. The briefing participants are:Jeffrey Grossman, OSIRIS-REx program scientist at NASA HeadquartersDante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona, TucsonAmy Simon, OVIRS deputy instrument scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Michael Nolan, OSIRIS-REx science team chief at the University of Arizona, TucsonFor more information, go to nasa.gov/osiris-rex or asteroidmission.org. TAGSAM Banner ImageCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona This image shows an artist’s rendering of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collecting a sample of material from Bennu’s surface in 2023. 1. Grossman – New FrontiersCredit: NASA-HQ 2. Grossman – Planetary FleetCredit: NASA 3. Grossman – Planetary Fleet/Small Bodies MissionsCredit: NASA 4. Grossman – Small Bodies FleetCredit: NASA 5. Grossman – NASA Small-Body MissionsCredit: NASA/University of Arizona 1. Lauretta – Twelve-Image PolyCam Mosaic of BennuCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaThis mosaic image of asteroid Bennu is composed of 12 PolyCam images collected on Dec. 2 by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from a range of 15 miles (24 km). The image was obtained at a 50° phase angle between the spacecraft, asteroid and the Sun, and in it, Bennu spans approximately 1,500 pixels in the camera’s field of view. 2. Lauretta – Mission Success CriteriaCredit: University of Arizona 3. Lauretta - OSIRIS-REx InstrumentsCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 1. Simon – OVIRS and OTES OverviewCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Arizona State University 2. Simon – First OVIRS Spectrum of BennuCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 3. Simon – Hydrated Mineral Feature on Bennu Near 2.7 MicronsCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/NASA Johnson Space Center/K.H. Joy 4. Simon – OTES Spectrum of Bennu Compared to Meteorite SpectraCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/NASA Johnson Space Center/K.H. Joy 5. Simon – Clay Mineral Formation and Hydration ProcessCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 1. Nolan – Arecibo RadarCredit: Arecibo Observatory 2. Nolan – Comparing Arecibo Radar Data and Ground-Based Shape Model of BennuCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Arecibo Observatory 3. Nolan – Comparing PolyCam Imagery and Ground-Based Shape Model of BennuCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 4. Nolan – Comparing PolyCam Imagery and Updated Preliminary Shape Model of BennuCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 4. Lauretta – MapCam Red/Green/Blue (RGB) Composite Image of BennuCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 5. Lauretta – Bennu Thermal Emission MapCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 6. Lauretta – PolyCam Image of Bennu’s Surface Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaOn Dec. 2, 2018, the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft imaged Bennu from a range of 15 miles (24 km). This image is cropped to show one section of the asteroid. 7. Lauretta – PolyCam Image of Bennu’s Surface – Boulder Pile DetailCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaOn Dec. 2, 2018, the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft imaged Bennu from a range of 15 miles (24 km). This image is cropped to show one section of the asteroid, and an area containing a boulder pile, approximately 52 feet (16 m) in width, is circled. 8. Lauretta – PolyCam Image of Bennu’s Surface – Boulder Pile Detail MagnifiedCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaOn Dec. 2, 2018, the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft imaged Bennu from a range of 15 miles (24 km). This image is cropped and magnified to show an area containing a boulder pile approximately 52 feet (16 m) in width in detail. 9. Lauretta – PolyCam Image of Bennu’s Surface – 35-Meter Fractured Boulder DetailCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaOn Dec. 2, 2018, the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft imaged Bennu from a range of 15 miles (24 km). This image is cropped to show one section of the asteroid, and an area containing a fractured boulder approximately 115 feet (35 m) in width is circled. 10. Lauretta – PolyCam Image of Bennu’s Surface – 35-Meter Fractured Boulder Detail MagnifiedCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaOn Dec. 2, 2018, the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft imaged Bennu from a range of 15 miles (24 km). This image is cropped and magnified to show an area containing a fractured boulder approximately 115 feet (35 m) in width in detail. 11. Lauretta – PolyCam Image of Bennu’s Surface – 31-Meter Fractured Boulder DetailCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaOn Dec. 2, 2018, the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft imaged Bennu from a range of 15 miles (24 km). This image is cropped to show one section of the asteroid, and an area containing a fractured boulder approximately 102 feet (31 m) in width is circled. 12. Lauretta – PolyCam Image of Bennu’s Surface – 31-Meter Fractured Boulder Detail MagnifiedCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaOn Dec. 2, 2018, the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft imaged Bennu from a range of 15 miles (24 km). This image is cropped and magnified to show an area containing a fractured boulder approximately 102 feet (31 m) in width in detail. 13. Lauretta – PolyCam Image of Bennu’s Surface Containing 20-Meter CraterCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaOn Dec. 2, 2018, the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft imaged Bennu from a range of 15 miles (24 km). This image is cropped to show one section of the asteroid containing a crater (20 m) in width. 14. Lauretta – PolyCam Image of Bennu’s Surface Containing 20-Meter Crater DetailCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaOn Dec. 2, 2018, the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft imaged Bennu from a range of 15 miles (24 km). This image is cropped and a section of the asteroid containing a crater (20 m) in width is circled. 15. Lauretta – PolyCam Image of Bennu’s Surface Containing 20-Meter Crater Detail MagnifiedCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaOn Dec. 2, 2018, the PolyCam camera on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft imaged Bennu from a range of 15 miles (24 km). This image is cropped and magnified to show an area containing a crater (20 m) in width. 16. Lauretta – OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Operations TimelineCredit: University of Arizona 17. Lauretta – TAGSAM Test ImageCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaThis image shows an artist’s rendering of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collecting a sample of material from Bennu’s surface in 2023. The inset photograph shows the OSIRIS-REx Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) sampling head extended from the spacecraft at the end of the TAGSAM arm. The spacecraft’s SamCam camera captured the image on November 14, 2018 as part of a visual checkout of the TAGSAM system, which was developed by Lockheed Martin Space to acquire a sample of asteroid material in a low-gravity environment. The imaging was a rehearsal for a series of observations that will be taken at Bennu directly after sample collection. 18. Lauretta – Mission Science ObjectivesCredit: University of Arizona 19. Lauretta – Twelve-Image PolyCam Mosaic of BennuCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of ArizonaThis mosaic image of asteroid Bennu is composed of 12 PolyCam images collected on Dec. 2 by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from a range of 15 miles (24 km). The image was obtained at a 50° phase angle between the spacecraft, asteroid and the Sun, and in it, Bennu spans approximately 1,500 pixels in the camera’s field of view.

Recorded audio from the OSIRIS-REx approach media teleconference on August 24, 2018, with accompanying presenter graphics. Individual graphics are available below.Watch this video on the NASA.gov Video YouTube channel. NASA is hosting a media teleconference at 2 p.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 24, to provide an update on upcoming activities related to the agency’s first mission to return a sample of an asteroid to Earth.The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft, which launched on Sept. 8, 2016, started asteroid science operations last week, began imaging asteroid Bennu for the first time, and is now preparing to conduct the necessary approach maneuvers to rendezvous with Bennu on Dec. 3. The mission represents a valuable opportunity to learn more about the origins of our solar system, the sources of water and organic molecules on Earth, and the hazards and resources in near-Earth space. The briefing participants are:Lori Glaze, acting director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA HeadquartersDante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator at the University of Arizona, TucsonMichael Moreau, OSIRIS-REx flight dynamics system manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterSandy Freund, OSIRIS-REx mission support area manager at Lockheed Martin SpaceFor more information, go to nasa.gov/osiris-rex or asteroidmission.org. 1. Jones - OSIRIS-REx Approach Phase opening remarksCredit: NASA s Goddard Space Flight Center 3. Moreau - Small bodies and asteroid Bennu to scaleCredit: NASA/University of Arizona/ESA/JAXA 4. Moreau - Optical Navigation phasesCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 1. Freund - The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft at Lockheed MartinCredit: Lockheed Martin Space 2. Freund - The OSIRIS-REx Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM)Credit: Lockheed Martin Space 3. Freund - TAGSAM deployment test at Lockheed MartinCredit: Lockheed Martin Space 4. Freund - TAGSAM deployment during Approach PhaseCredit: Lockheed Martin Space