OSIRIS-REx MISSION |NASA

OSIRIS-REx: 

OSIRIS-RE

Introduction

OSIRIS-REx, or Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer, is a NASA asteroid sample-return mission. It was launched on September 8, 2016, and entered orbit around the near-Earth asteroid Bennu on December 31, 2018. On October 20, 2020, OSIRIS-REx successfully touched down on Bennu and collected a sample of its surface material. The spacecraft is now on its way back to Earth, and is scheduled to deliver the sample on September 24, 2023.

OSIRIS-REx is the first U.S. mission to return a sample from an asteroid, and the first mission to return a sample from a carbonaceous asteroid, such as Bennu. Carbonaceous asteroids are thought to be some of the most primitive objects in the solar system, and they may contain organic molecules and other materials that were essential for the origin of life.

The OSIRIS-REx mission is also significant because it will help scientists to better understand the potential hazards posed by asteroids. Bennu is a potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA), which means that it has a non-zero probability of impacting Earth. By studying Bennu, scientists can learn more about its physical and chemical properties, as well as its orbit. This information will be essential for developing mitigation strategies in the event that Bennu ever poses a real threat to Earth.

Science Objectives

The OSIRIS-REx mission has three main science objectives:

Return and analyze a sample of Bennu. This is the primary objective of the mission. The sample will be analyzed by scientists in laboratories around the world to learn more about the composition and history of Bennu.

Document the topography, mineralogy, and chemistry of the sample site. This will help scientists to understand the context in which the sample was collected, and to identify any potential hazards that may be posed by Bennu.

Globally map the topography, mineralogy, and chemistry of Bennu. This will provide scientists with a comprehensive understanding of Bennu's surface, and will help them to identify other potential sample sites.

Spacecraft

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is a solar-powered spacecraft that is approximately 22 feet (6.7 meters) tall and 19 feet (5.8 meters) wide. It has a mass of approximately 1,800 pounds (816 kilograms). The spacecraft is equipped with a suite of scientific instruments, including:

OCAMS: The OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite, which consists of three cameras: PolyCam, MapCam, and SamCam. PolyCam is a high-resolution camera that will be used to map the surface of Bennu and to identify potential sample sites. MapCam is a wide-field camera that will be used to create global maps of Bennu. SamCam is a narrow-field camera that will be used to document the sample collection process.

OLA: The OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter, which will be used to measure the distance from the spacecraft to the surface of Bennu. This information will be used to create three-dimensional maps of Bennu and to identify potential sample sites.

OVIRS: The OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer, which will be used to measure the composition of Bennu's surface material. This information will be used to identify potential sample sites and to learn more about the composition and history of Bennu.

OTES: The OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emission Spectrometer, which will be used to measure the temperature of Bennu's surface. This information will be used to learn more about the composition of Bennu's surface material and to identify potential sample sites.

REXIS: The OSIRIS-REx X-ray Spectrometer, which will be used to measure the elemental composition of Bennu's surface material. This information will be used to learn more about the composition and history of Bennu.

TAGSAM: The Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism, which is the device that will be used to collect the sample from Bennu. TAGSAM consists of a robotic arm and a sampling head. The sampling head contains a small nitrogen gas canister that will be used to blow a plume of nitrogen gas at the surface of Bennu. This will dislodge some of the surface material, which will then be collected by the sampling head.

Mission Timeline

The OSIRIS-REx mission timeline is as follows:

September 8, 2016: OSIRIS-REx launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

August 2017: OSIRIS-RE