OSIRIS-REx TAG Event: Animations

  • Released Monday, October 19th, 2020
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:44PM
  • ID: 20325

The Checkpoint burn sends OSIRIS-REx toward sample site Nightingale.

This media resource page provides animations of the OSIRIS-REx Touch-And-Go (TAG) event. OSIRIS-REx is NASA's first asteroid-sample return mission. Its goal is to study near-Earth asteroid Bennu and return a sample to Earth in 2023. The primary sample site for TAG is a small crater called Nightingale, which is surrounded by large boulders that could pose a hazard to the spacecraft.

All animations available in 4K Ultra HD resolution.

SamCam imaging sequence, from Checkpoint to Matchpoint, simulating one frame per minute.

The Matchpoint burn zeroes out OSIRIS-REx's horizontal velocity relative to site Nightingale, so that the spacecraft does not tip over during TAG.

SamCam imaging sequence, from Matchpoint to TAG, simulating one frame every 15 seconds.

OSIRIS-REx will use an onboard Hazard Map to autonomously determine whether it is safe to touch down on Bennu's rocky surface at the predicted point of contact.

After OSIRIS-REx touches down on Bennu, it will fire nitrogen gas into the surface to stir up and capture loose material, then it will back away to a safe distance from the asteroid.

The TAGSAM mechanism will fire nitrogen gas into Bennu's surface, creating a reverse vacuum in order to capture small rocks and dust inside the sampler head.

After touching Bennu's surface for only a few seconds, OSIRIS-REx will fire its thrusters and back away to a safe distance with its precious cargo.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

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

Missions

This visualization is related to the following missions: