Thirty Seconds on Asteroid Bennu: Animation

The lunar surface is better at resisting impacts than the loose surface of asteroid Bennu – thanks to the Moon’s much stronger gravity. Asteroid Bennu is a dark, jumbled mass of rocks and boulders left over from the formation of the solar system. Roughly the height of a skyscraper, Bennu’s loose surface materials are held together by an incredibly weak gravitational field – with a minute tug less than one-hundred-thousandth the pull of Earth. What would it be like to touch down on such an environment?On the Moon, gravity is sixteen percent as strong as it is on Earth and more than sixteen thousand times stronger than it is on Bennu. As a result, loose material in the lunar subsurface is packed together more tightly, making the Moon’s surface relatively firm. If a fifty-kilogram mass of solid iron were to hit the Moon traveling at ten centimeters per second, it would sink into the ground by only half a centimeter.Repeating this experiment at Bennu would yield a dramatically different result. Though the mass would strike the asteroid’s surface with the same force, it would plunge seventeen centimeters before stopping – over thirty times deeper than at the Moon.Learn more about the surface properties of asteroid Bennu. For More InformationSee [https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex](https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex) Related pages

This visualization begins with a top-down view of a high resolution digital terrain model (DTM) of the Nightingale TAG sample site on Bennu. As the camera moves closer, data representing the surface height change pre-post TAG fades on. The surface height change as a result of the TAG event is represented by both a color map and by offsetting the original DTM to reveal the TAG crater. The DTM offset is applied to the surface region within ~7.5 meters of impact, which is highlighted for emphasis. With this color bar, yellows, greens, and blues represent a decrease in elevation, light red represents no change in elevation, and dark red represents an increase in elevation. Thruster marks and a region of ejected surface material are labeled. The camera does a 360 degree spin around the sample site before returning to a top-down view of the color-mapped data. Same visualization as above, but without “Point of Impact,” "Ejected Material," and “Thruster Mark” labels Still image - Top-down view of a high resolution digital terrain model (DTM) of the Nightingale TAG sample site on Bennu. Still image - Oblique view of the Nightingale TAG sample site with the TAG impact location labeled. Still image - Oblique view of the TAG sample site with pre-post surface height change data represented by both a color map and by offsetting the original DTM to reveal the TAG crater. The DTM offset is only applied to the surface region within ~7.5 meters of impact, which is highlighted for emphasis. Still image - Oblique view of the TAG sample site with pre-post surface height change data represented by both a color map and by offsetting the original DTM to reveal the TAG crater. The DTM offset is only applied to the surface region within ~7.5 meters of impact, which is highlighted for emphasis. Additional surface features resulting from TAG are labeled. Still image - Top-down view of a high resolution digital terrain model (DTM) of the Nightingale TAG sample site on Bennu with pre-post surface height change data. The Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft arrived at near-Earth asteroid Bennu in December 2018. After studying the asteroid for nearly two years, the spacecraft successfully performed a Touch-And-Go (TAG) sample collection maneuver on October 20, 2020. The change in surface topography as a result of the sample collection maneuver is observed by comparing pre-TAG and post-TAG digital terrain models (DTM), revealing the newly-formed TAG crater. OSIRIS-REx will return its sample of Bennu to Earth in September 2023. Related pages

Real-time animation of the OSIRIS-REx Touch-And-Go (TAG) Event. This animation accurately depicts the spacecraft's journey to the surface of Bennu. On October 20, 2020, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touched down on near-Earth asteroid Bennu and collected a sample of pristine material for return to Earth. The Touch-And-Go (TAG) Event was a feat of engineering, carefully monitored by mission controllers at Lockheed Martin Space and broadcast live on NASA-TV.During the broadcast, the real-time animation above allowed viewers to follow OSIRIS-REx as it slowly maneuvered to the surface of Bennu. This animation is based on the spacecraft's nominal trajectory and an accurate 3D model of the asteroid's terrain. Broadcast playback was adjusted for the light-time delay from Bennu to Earth (plus signal processing), providing viewers with a real-time window onto the TAG Event.Highlights can be found at the following animation time steps (hours: minutes: seconds):00:29:03 - First move to Y-Wing configuration00:34:29 - Second move to Y-Wing configuration00:39:54 - Y-Wing configuration complete00:43:27 - Checkpoint engine burn start00:54:34 - Matchpoint engine burn start01:05:10 - TOUCH asteroid Bennu01:05:18 - Back-away engine burn start01:06:43 - Begin slew to Pegasus configurationAnimation frames are organized into chapters for ease of download. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex) Related pages

The Checkpoint burn sends OSIRIS-REx toward sample site Nightingale. 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. 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. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex) Related pages