Planets and Moons  ID: 20255

OSIRIS-REx Mission Design: Sample Acquisition Campaign

After nine months in orbit around asteroid Bennu, OSIRIS-REx will begin the process of maneuvering closer to the surface in preparation of the sample collection event. Once the sample site has been selected, OSIRIS-REx will break from its polar orbit to practice three flyovers of the site at increasing proximities, eventually matching Bennu's speed and rotation. The narrow-angle PolyCam will image the sample site at sub-centimeter resolution during these close passes. When OSIRIS-REx is ready, it will slowly descend to Bennu's surface at a few centimeters per second. Its outstretched arm will touch down and blow high-pressure nitrogen gas into Bennu's soil. This will force loose dust, dirt, and rocks upward into the TAGSAM head, trapping the material inside. OSIRIS-REx will then weigh and stow the captured sample for return to Earth in 2023.
 

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Animation Credits

Walt Feimer (HTSI): Lead Animator
Michael Lentz (USRA): Animator
Adriana Manrique Gutierrez (USRA): Animator
Lisa Poje (USRA): Animator
Dan Gallagher (USRA): Lead Producer
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET Systems, Inc.): Lead Technical Support
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20255

Mission:
OSIRIS-REX

Keywords:
SVS >> Asteroid
SVS >> Hyperwall
SVS >> OSIRIS-REx
NASA Science >> Planets and Moons
SVS >> Bennu