To Bennu and Back: OSIRIS-REx and asteroid Bennu in 3D
The OSIRIS-REx mission was built by NASA to meet up with asteroid Bennu and bring back samples of its surface rock which will help us better understand our solar system
OSIRIS-REx Liftoff (2016-09-08) by NASA/Sandy Joseph and Tim TerryNASA
The Mission
OSIRIS-REx, NASA’s first mission to collect a sample from an asteroid, will help scientists find out how planets in our solar system formed and how life began here. This is because primitive asteroids offer a window into the past, to look at the early history of our solar system.
Observations by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will also improve our understanding of asteroids that could hit the Earth, since the mission’s target asteroid, 101955 Bennu, is what scientists refer to as a "near-Earth object." This means it orbits the Sun and crosses Earth’s orbit.
OSIRIS-RExNASA
The spacecraft carries a host of instruments designed to help scientists better understand the tiny world of Bennu; Bennu is only ⅓ mile (½ km) across.
These instruments both mapped Bennu to pick the best and safest place to get a sample and collected data to help scientists understand how the returned sample relates to the whole asteroid. Thus, better understand the history of our solar system.
OSIRIS-RExNASA
One of the instruments it carries is actually a group of three telescopes called the “OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite'' or OCAMS. Those telescopes, with two navigation cameras, built a picture of what Bennu looks like, which provided the literal (road) map for sample collection.
Bennu Detailed Model by Data provided by NASA/University of Arizona/CSA/York University/MDANASA
OSIRIS-REx carries another instrument to navigate Bennu, the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA) , which helped scientists create a 3D map of Bennu. This was used to help find a place to touch down and grab a sample, and to make the 3D model you see here.
Then there are two instruments, OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (OVIRS) and OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emission Spectrometer (OTES) which helped scientists learn the asteroid’s properties by studying the colors of reflected light off the dark asteroid.
This includes the presence of water bound in clays and organic molecules like those which may have helped lead to life on Earth.
The spacecraft arrived at Bennu in December of 2018. After a long period of study, it snagged a sample in October of 2020. It then began its long journey home in May of 2021, and is on course to return to Earth on September 24, 2023.
BENNU’S JOURNEY - Impacts (2017-12-08)NASA
After the sample lands in Utah, scientists will retrieve it to begin their studies. They will then find out what secrets it holds about the formation of the planets and the start of life in our solar system.
OSIRIS-REx Executes First Deep Space Maneuver (2017-12-08)NASA
But the scientists only will study 25% of the sample. The rest is preserved for future scientists to study with new ideas and new methods. Perhaps by you.
You can follow the spacecraft's journey HERE
More Resources
Check out these links to read, watch and learn more!
OSIRIS-REx Videos | NASA
OSIRIS-REx Resources – NASA Solar System Exploration
Learn Science | Science Mission Directorate (nasa.gov)
View Asteroid Lessons from NASA!
Introduction to the Electromagnetic Spectrum | Science Mission Directorate (nasa.gov)
Credits:
Author: Nick Oakes
Editors: Julie Freijat, Bill Steigerwald, Jason Dworkin
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Goddard Office of Communications
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