OSIRIS-REx Post-TAG Briefing

  • Released Wednesday, October 21, 2020
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NASA is hosting a press briefing on Oct. 21 to unveil new videos of the OSIRIS-REx sample collection attempt.
The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft unfurled its robotic arm on Oct. 20, and in a first for the agency, briefly touched an asteroid to collect dust and pebbles from the surface for delivery to Earth in 2023.


This well-preserved, ancient asteroid, known as Bennu, is currently more than 200 million miles (321 million kilometers) from Earth. Bennu offers scientists a window into the early solar system as it was first taking shape billions of years ago and flinging ingredients that could have helped seed life on Earth. If the sample collection event, known as “Touch-And-Go” (TAG), provided enough of a sample, mission teams will command the spacecraft to begin stowing the precious primordial cargo to begin its journey back to Earth in March 2021.

1. Lauretta - TAG Movie 1

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

2. Lauretta - TAG Movie 2

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

3. Lauretta - TAG Movie 3

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

1. Burns - TAGSAM Explained

OSIRIS-REx descended 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. Burns - Nightingale Hazard Map and TAG LocationCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

2. Burns - Nightingale Hazard Map and TAG Location

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

3. Burns - Backaway

After collecting the sample of Bennu, OSIRIS-REx fired its thrusters and backed away to a safe distance from the asteroid.

Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab/SVS

1. Freund - Sample Imaging Verification

OSIRIS-REx will use its SamCam instrument to visually inspect the TAGSAM head and verify sample collection.

Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab

2. Freund - Sample Mass Measurement

To measure the mass of the collected sample, OSIRIS-REx will extend its TAGSAM arm and perform a spin maneuver.

Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab

1. BridenstineNASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Credit: NASA

1. Bridenstine

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Credit: NASA

1. ZurbuchenNASA Science Associate Administrator Dr. Thomas H. Zurbuchen. Credit: NASA

1. Zurbuchen

NASA Science Associate Administrator Dr. Thomas H. Zurbuchen. Credit: NASA

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

This page was originally published on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
This page was last updated on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 11:22 PM EDT.

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