OSIRIS-Rex – Atlas V 411 (AV-067) – Canaveral SLC-41 – 08.09.2016 23:05 UTC

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NASA's OSIRIS-REx✔@OSIRISREx 7:37 PM - Jan 29, 2020

What. A. Pic.

Site Nightingale is visible in the upper left. Captured on Jan 22, this is the closest image of the sample site taken to date. It was taken fr om 0.4 miles (0.6 km) away. The cracked boulder (up & right of center) is 3 ft (1 m) long, ~ the size of a guitar.




7:37 PM - Jan 29, 2020

The orange outline on this mosaic shows the image "footprint." The blue star is the targeted sample site.

More image details: https://bit.ly/2Oazxj9




10:57 PM - Jan 30, 2020

Here's the northeastern portion of the Nightingale crater on Bennu. The site is visible in the lower left part of the frame. The image was taken on Jan 22, from 0.4 miles (0.6 km) away. The large, dark boulder in the upper right is 11 ft (3.3 m) long, about the length of a kayak.




10:57 PM - Jan 30, 2020

For context, here's wh ere sample site Nightingale is located in the image and the area of the crater that is visible.

Image details: https://bit.ly/2u3tXs4

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NASA's OSIRIS-REx‏ @OSIRISREx 16 ч. назад

Alright. Ready for round two.

On Tuesday, Feb 11, I'll fly over Osprey — the backup sample collection site.

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https://www.asteroidmission.org/?latest-news=status-update-osiris-rex-osprey-flyover

Status Update: OSIRIS-REx Osprey Flyover

February 13, 2020 - On Feb. 11, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft safely executed a 0.4-mile (620-m) flyover of the backup sample collection site Osprey as part of the mission's Reconnaissance B phase activities. Preliminary telemetry, however, indicates that the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA) did not operate as expected during the 11-hour event. The OLA instrument was scheduled to provide ranging data to the spacecraft's PolyCam imager, which would allow the camera to focus while imaging the area around the sample collection site. Consequently, the PolyCam images from the flyover are likely out of focus.

The other science instruments, including the MapCam imager, the OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emissions Spectrometer (OTES), and the OSIRIS-REx Visual and InfraRed Spectrometer (OVIRS), all performed nominally during the flyover. These instruments and the spacecraft continue in normal operations in orbit around asteroid Bennu.

The mission team is currently reviewing the available data from the flyover in order to fully assess the OLA instrument. The entire data set from the flyover, including the PolyCam images, will be completely downlinked from the spacecraft next week and will provide additional insight into any impact that the loss of the OLA data may have.

OLA has already completed all of its principal requirements for the OSIRIS-REx mission. OLA's scans of Bennu's surface were used to create the high-resolution 3D global maps of Bennu's topography that were crucial for selecting the primary and backup sample collection sites last fall.

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https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/osiris-rex/news.asp#20200213

Information regarding an anomaly for Canadian OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter


(Credit: NASA / Goddard)

2020-02-13

On February 11, 2020, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft safely executed a flyover of the backup sample collection site Osprey as part of the mission's activities. Preliminary telemetry, however, indicates that the Canadian OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA) did not operate as expected during the 11-hour event.

OLA had successfully completed all tasks related to selecting Nightingale as the primary sample acquisition site. Last year OLA also scanned the asteroid's surface to create high-resolution 3D maps that were crucial to help mission scientists sel ect the best sample site.

The other science instruments all performed nominally during the flyover. These instruments and the spacecraft continue their normal operations in orbit around asteroid Bennu.

The mission team is currently reviewing the available data from the flyover in order to fully assess the OLA instrument. The entire data set from the flyover, including the PolyCam images, will be completely downlinked fr om the spacecraft next week and will provide additional insight into any impact that the loss of the OLA data may have.

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 Dante Lauretta‏ @DSLauretta 59 мин. назад

At the @OSIRISREx Mission Planning Board today I gave the "GO" for Checkpoint Rehearsal - on April 14 we will execute the first two maneuvers for the descent to Bennu's surface #PI_Daily

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https://www.asteroidmission.org/20200211-osprey-crater/

Osprey Crater

This image shows the crater where sample site Osprey is located near asteroid Bennu's equator. The crater is visible on the left side of the image, and the sample site is located in the shadowed eastern side of the crater. The image was taken by the MapCam camera on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on February 11 from a distance of 0.4 miles (0.6 km). The field of view is 164 ft (50 m). For reference, the large boulder resting on the crater's northern wall is 17 ft (5.2 m) long, which is about the length of a box truck. The image was obtained during the mission's Reconnaissance B phase. When it was taken, the spacecraft was over the northern hemisphere, pointing MapCam south and to the west.

Date Taken: Feb. 11, 2020

Instrument Used: OCAMS (MapCam)

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

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https://www.asteroidmission.org/20200211upperstrix/

Upper Half of Osprey Boulder

This image shows the upper portion of the largest boulder in the crater where sample site Osprey is located. The crater is near asteroid Bennu's equator, and its northern rim is visible in the lower half of the image. The sample site itself is located below the boulder and to the right (outside of the image frame). The image was taken by the PolyCam camera on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on February 11 fr om a distance of 0.4 miles (0.6 km). The field of view is 29 ft (8.8 m). For reference, the boulder's prominent fracture is 11 ft (3.2 m) long, which is about the length of a paddle board. The image was obtained during the mission's Reconnaissance B phase. When it was taken, the spacecraft was over the northern hemisphere, pointing PolyCam south and to the east. During this flyover, the spacecraft's OLA instrument was scheduled to provide ranging data to PolyCam in order to focus the camera. However, due to an anomaly that occurred with OLA, the PolyCam images from this flyover are slightly out of focus.

Date Taken: February 11, 2020

Instrument Used: OCAMS (PolyCam)

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

https://www.asteroidmission.org/20200211lowerstrix/

Lower Half of Osprey Boulder

This image shows the lower portion of the largest boulder in the crater wh ere sample site Osprey is located. The crater is near asteroid Bennu's equator, and the sample site itself is located below the boulder and to the right (outside of the image frame). The image was taken by the PolyCam camera on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on February 11 from a distance of 0.4 miles (0.6 km). The field of view is 29 ft (8.8 m). For reference, the boulder's prominent fracture is 11 ft (3.2 m) long, which is about the length of a paddle board. The image was obtained during the mission's Reconnaissance B phase. When it was taken, the spacecraft was over the northern hemisphere, pointing PolyCam south and to the east. During this flyover, the spacecraft's OLA instrument was scheduled to provide ranging data to PolyCam in order to focus the camera. However, due to an anomaly that occurred with OLA, the PolyCam images from this flyover are slightly out of focus.

Date Taken: February 11, 2020

Instrument Used: OCAMS (PolyCam)

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

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https://www.asteroidmission.org/20200211boulderseastofosprey/

Boulders East of Osprey

This image shows a close-up view of large boulders near asteroid Bennu's equator, in the region where sample site Osprey's crater is located. The crater and the sample site are directly west of these boulders (outside of the image frame). The image was taken by the PolyCam camera on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on February 11 from a distance of 0.4 miles (0.6 km). The field of view is 30 ft (9 m). For reference, the small bright rock (upper right quadrant) is 9 inches (23 cm) across, which is about the size of a paperback book. The image was obtained during the mission's Reconnaissance B phase. When it was taken, the spacecraft was over the northern hemisphere, pointing PolyCam north and to the east. During this flyover, the OLA instrument was scheduled to provide ranging data to PolyCam in order to focus the camera. However, due to an anomaly that occurred with OLA, the PolyCam images from this flyover are slightly out of focus.

The small, horizontal streaks on the bottom left of the image are caused by short exposure times (less than three milliseconds). Short exposure times are required for imaging areas near Bennu's equator, since they are brightly illuminated by the sun. The duration between images is so short that the imaging system does not always have time to process all the data generated by the previous exposure, which results in icicle-like patterns.

Date Taken: February 11, 2020

Instrument Used: OCAMS (PolyCam)

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

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https://www.asteroidmission.org/20200211siteospreyitself/

Site Osprey During Recon B

This image shows a close-up view of sample site Osprey on asteroid Bennu. The site is located directly to the right of the patch of dark material. The image was taken by the PolyCam camera on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on February 11 from a distance of 0.4 miles (0.6 km). The field of view is 31 ft (9.5 m). For reference, the dark patch of material is 7 ft (2 m) across, which is about the size of a door. The image was obtained during the mission's Reconnaissance B phase. When it was taken, the spacecraft was over the northern hemisphere, pointing PolyCam north and to the east. During this flyover, the OLA instrument was scheduled to provide ranging data to PolyCam in order to focus the camera. However, due to an anomaly that occurred with OLA, the PolyCam images from this flyover are slightly out of focus.

The small, horizontal streaks on the bottom left of the image are caused by short exposure times (less than three milliseconds). Short exposure times are required for imaging areas near Bennu's equator, since they are brightly illuminated by the sun. The duration between images is so short that the imaging system does not always have time to process all the data generated by the previous exposure, which results in icicle-like patterns.

Date Taken: February 11, 2020

Instrument Used: OCAMS (PolyCam)

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

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https://www.asteroidmission.org/stowcam_src_bennu_dec11_2019/

OSIRIS-REx Hearts Bennu

During routine instrument calibrations, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft captured this heart-themed image of its Sample Return Capsule (SRC) and asteroid Bennu together. The Sun, from its position to the left of the frame, casts a heart-shaped illumination onto the top of the SRC. The shimmers of light covering the SRC are the result of sunlight reflecting off the Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) blankets around the spacecraft's high gain antenna. These reflective, germanium-coated MLI blankets, which provide thermal protection to the spacecraft, can be seen covering most of the spacecraft's exterior. The image was captured by the StowCam camera on Dec. 11, 2019, while OSIRIS-REx was orbiting Bennu at a distance of 0.7 miles (1.1 km).

StowCam, a color imager, is one of the three cameras in the TAGCAMS (Touch-And-Go Camera System) camera suite. The imager is focused on the SRC to confirm that the asteroid sample is safely stowed after sample collection. Malin Space Science Systems designed, built, and tested TAGCAMS; Lockheed Martin integrated TAGCAMS to the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and operates TAGCAMS.

The SRC is designed to hold a sample of rocks and dust from Bennu during the spacecraft's return to Earth. OSIRIS-REx, NASA's first asteroid sample return mission, is scheduled to make its preliminary sample collection attempt in August 2020 and will return to Earth on Sept. 24, 2023.

Date Taken: Dec. 11, 2019

Instrument Used: TAGCAMS (Stowcam)

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin

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https://www.asteroidmission.org/20200211sideupperstrix/

Side View of Osprey Boulder (Upper)

This image shows a side-view of the upper portion of the largest boulder in the crater where sample site Osprey is located. The crater is near asteroid Bennu's equator, and the sample site itself is located below the boulder and to the right (outside of the image frame). The image was taken by the PolyCam camera on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on February 11 fr om a distance of 0.4 miles (0.6 km). The field of view is 32 ft (9.6 m). For reference, the small, triangular rock near the center of the image is 2 ft (64 cm) across, which is about the width of a movie poster. The image was obtained during the mission's Reconnaissance B phase. When the image was taken, the spacecraft was over the northern hemisphere, pointing PolyCam north and to the east. This oblique observation angle reveals another side of the boulder, which usually appears as a flat, spear-tip shape in images. During this flyover, the OLA instrument was scheduled to provide ranging data to PolyCam in order to focus the camera. However, due to an anomaly that occurred with OLA, the PolyCam images from this flyover are slightly out of focus.

The small, horizontal streaks on the bottom left of the image are caused by short exposure times (less than three milliseconds). Short exposure times are required for imaging areas near Bennu's equator, since they are brightly illuminated by the sun. The duration between images is so short that the imaging system does not always have time to process all the data generated by the previous exposure, which results in icicle-like patterns.

Date Taken: February 11, 2020

Instrument Used: OCAMS (PolyCam)

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

https://www.asteroidmission.org/20200211sidelowerstrix/

Side View of Osprey Boulder (Lower)

This image shows a side-view of the lower portion of the largest boulder in the crater wh ere sample site Osprey is located. The crater is near asteroid Bennu's equator, and the sample site itself is located below the boulder and directly to the right of the patch of dark material. The image was taken by the PolyCam camera on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on February 11 from a distance of 0.4 miles (0.6 km). The field of view is 32 ft (9.6 m). For reference, the small, bright rock (just below the tip of the large boulder) is 4 inches (10 cm), which is about the size of a grapefruit. The image was obtained during the mission's Reconnaissance B phase. When the image was taken, the spacecraft was over the northern hemisphere, pointing PolyCam north and to the east. This oblique observation angle reveals another side of the boulder, which usually appears as a flat, spear-tip shape in images. During this flyover, the OLA instrument was scheduled to provide ranging data to PolyCam in order to focus the camera. However, due to an anomaly that occurred with OLA, the PolyCam images from this flyover are slightly out of focus.

The small, horizontal streaks on the bottom left of the image are caused by short exposure times (less than three milliseconds). Short exposure times are required for imaging areas near Bennu's equator, since they are brightly illuminated by the sun. The duration between images is so short that the imaging system does not always have time to process all the data generated by the previous exposure, which results in icicle-like patterns.

Date Taken: Feb 11, 2020

Instrument Used: OCAMS (PolyCam)

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

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https://www.asteroidmission.org/20200211sideofstrix/

Side View of Osprey Boulder

This image shows a side-view of the largest boulder in the crater where sample site Osprey is located. The crater is near asteroid Bennu's equator, and the sample site itself is located below the boulder and to the right (outside of the image frame). The image was taken by the PolyCam camera on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on February 11 from a distance of 0.4 miles (0.6 km). The field of view is 32 ft (9.7 m). For reference, the large boulder is 17 ft (5.2 m) long, which is about the length of a box truck. The image was obtained during the mission's Reconnaissance B phase. The image was obtained during the mission's Reconnaissance B phase. When the image was taken, the spacecraft was over the northern hemisphere, pointing PolyCam north and to the east. This oblique observation angle reveals another side of the boulder, which usually appears as a flat, spear-tip shape in images. During this flyover, the OLA instrument was scheduled to provide ranging data to PolyCam in order to focus the camera. However, due to an anomaly that occurred with OLA, the PolyCam images from this flyover are slightly out of focus.

The small, horizontal streaks on the bottom left of the image are caused by short exposure times (less than three milliseconds). Short exposure times are required for imaging areas near Bennu's equator, since they are brightly illuminated by the sun. The duration between images is so short that the imaging system does not always have time to process all the data generated by the previous exposure, which results in icicle-like patterns.

Date Taken: Feb. 11, 2020

Instrument Used: OCAMS (PolyCam)

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

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Asteroid Bennu: Selecting Site Nightingale

NASA Goddard

27 февр. 2020 г.

OSIRIS-REx is a NASA mission to explore near-Earth asteroid Bennu and return a sample to Earth. Prior to arriving at Bennu, mission planners had expected the asteroid's surface to consist largely of fine-grained material, like a sandy beach. When OSIRIS-REx arrived in December 2018, however, it was greeted by a rocky world covered with boulders.

This unexpected roughness means that there are few places on Bennu where OSIRIS-REx can safely touch down and collect a sample. After a year of studying the asteroid, the mission announced a primary sample collection site, which they designated "Nightingale," along with a backup site called "Osprey." In August 2020, OSIRIS-REx will descend to Nightingale and attempt to collect up to four-and-a-half pounds of loose material, for return to Earth in 2023.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/hFP3eqRgsus (3:33)

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https://www.asteroidmission.org/?latest-news=nasas-osiris-rex-students-catch-unexpected-glimpse-of-newly-discovered-black-hole

NASA's OSIRIS-REx Students Catch Unexpected Glimpse of Newly Discovered Black Hole

February 28, 2020 - University students and researchers working on a NASA mission orbiting a near-Earth asteroid have made an unexpected detection of a phenomenon 30 thousand light years away. Last fall, the student-built Regolith X-Ray Imaging Spectrometer (REXIS) onboard NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft detected a newly flaring black hole in the constellation Columba while making observations off the limb of asteroid Bennu.


This visualization simulates an X-ray outburst from the black hole MAXI J0637-043, detected by the REXIS instrument on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, as it moves through REXIS's line of sight. At first, the outburst is visibly intense, but it gradually fades as it subsides. The animation was constructed using data collected by the X-ray spectrometer while REXIS was making observations of the space around asteroid Bennu on Nov. 11, 2019. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/MIT/Harvard

REXIS, a shoebox-sized student instrument, was designed to measure the X-rays that Bennu emits in response to incoming solar radiation. X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, like visible light, but with much higher energy. REXIS is a collaborative experiment led by students and researchers at MIT and Harvard, who proposed, built, and operate the instrument.

On Nov. 11, 2019, while the REXIS instrument was performing detailed science observations of Bennu, it captured X-rays radiating from a point off the asteroid's edge. "Our initial checks showed no previously cataloged object in that position in space," said Branden Allen, a Harvard research scientist and student supervisor who first spotted the source in the REXIS data.

The glowing object turned out to be a newly flaring black hole X-ray binary – discovered just a week earlier by Japan's MAXI telescope – designated MAXI J0637-430. NASA's Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) telescope also identified the X-ray blast a few days later. Both MAXI and NICER operate aboard NASA's International Space Station and detected the X-ray event from low Earth orbit. REXIS, on the other hand, detected the same activity millions of miles from Earth while orbiting Bennu, the first such outburst ever detected from interplanetary space.

"Detecting this X-ray burst is a proud moment for the REXIS team. It means our instrument is performing as expected and to the level required of NASA science instruments," said Madeline Lambert, an MIT graduate student who designed the instrument's command sequences that serendipitously revealed the black hole.

X-ray blasts, like the one emitted from the newly discovered black hole, can only be observed from space since Earth's protective atmosphere shields our planet from X-rays. These X-ray emissions occur when a black hole pulls in matter from a normal star that is in orbit around it. As the matter spirals onto a spinning disk surrounding the black hole, an enormous amount of energy (primarily in the form of X-rays) is released in the process.


This image shows the X-ray outburst from the black hole MAXI J0637-043, detected by the REXIS instrument on NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The image was constructed using data collected by the X-ray spectrometer while REXIS was making observations of the space around asteroid Bennu on Nov. 11, 2019. The outburst is visible in the center of the image, and the image is overlaid with the limb of Bennu (lower right) to illustrate REXIS's field of view. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/MIT/Harvard

"We set out to train students how to build and operate space instruments," said MIT professor Richard Binzel, instrument scientist for the REXIS student experiment. "It turns out, the greatest lesson is to always be open to discovering the unexpected."

The main purpose of the REXIS instrument is to prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers, and project managers in the development and operations of spaceflight hardware. Nearly 100 undergraduate and graduate students have worked on the REXIS team since the mission's inception.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, provides overall mission management, systems engineering, and the safety and mission assurance for OSIRIS-REx. Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona, Tucson, is the principal investigator, and the University of Arizona also leads the science team and the mission's science observation planning and data processing. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built the spacecraft and provides flight operations. Goddard and KinetX Aerospace are responsible for navigating the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA's New Frontiers Program, which is managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

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NASA's OSIRIS-REx✔@OSIRISREx 7:16 PM - Mar 2, 2020

ICYMI - our student-built instrument detected X-ray flares from a newly discovered black hole! This giant flare (from a stellar mass black hole) is the first such outburst ever detected from interplanetary space!

(1:49)

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NASA's OSIRIS-REx✔@OSIRISREx 10:48 PM - Mar 2, 2020

Tomorrow I'll fly 820 ft (250 m) over Bennu's surface — the closest I've EVER been It's getting real #TAG2020




11:49 PM - Mar 2, 2020

Who's ready for tomorrow's low-altitude flyover of site Nightingale? Observations will take place from a distance of 820 ft (250 m). The goal is to collect high-resolution imagery of the site so that the team can locate the best areas for collecting a sample.

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Dante Lauretta@DSLauretta 6:05 PM - Mar 3, 2020

The @OSIRISREx spacecraft is performing the lowest altitude flyover of our Nightingale primary sample site today. We are targeting a closest approach of 250 m - 2.5x closer than ever before!




6:07 PM - Mar 3, 2020

Following up on the anomaly experienced during the mid-altitude pass three weeks ago - we are using OLA's High Energy Laser Transmitter (HELT) to provide the ranging data to focus PolyCam during today's flyover of Nightingale.


6:10 PM - Mar 3, 2020

Unfortunately, the Low-Energy Laser Transmitter (LELT) on OLA is no longer operable. We are grateful to the OLA team for all of the amazing data returned from this pioneering instrument. In addition to aiding site selection, we are analyzing these data to learn more about Bennu.

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https://www.asteroidmission.org/?latest-news=osiris-rex-swoops-over-sample-site-nightingale

OSIRIS-REx Swoops Over Sample Site Nightingale

March 4, 2020 - NASA's first asteroid-sampling spacecraft just got its best look yet at asteroid Bennu. Yesterday, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft executed a very low pass over sample site Nightingale, taking observations fr om an altitude of 820 feet (250 m), which is the closest that OSIRIS-REx has flown over the asteroid so far. Nightingale, OSIRIS-REx's primary sample collection site, is located within a crater in Bennu's northern hemisphere.


On Mar. 3, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft performed a low-altitude flyover of site Nightingale. During the pass, science observations of asteroid Bennu took place from a distance of approximately 820 ft (250 m) – the closest the spacecraft has ever been to the asteroid's surface. Credit: University of Arizona

To perform the 5-hour flyover, the spacecraft left its 0.6-mile (1-km) safe-home orbit and aimed its science instruments toward the 52-ft (16-m) wide sample site. The science observations from this pass are the closest taken of Bennu to date.

The main goal of yesterday's low flyover was to collect high-resolution imagery of the site's surface material. The spacecraft's sample collection mechanism is designed to pick up small rocks less than 0.8 inches (2 cm) in size, and the PolyCam images from this low pass are very detailed, allowing the team to identify and locate rocks of this size. Several of the spacecraft's other instruments also took observations of the Nightingale site during the flyover event, including the OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emissions Spectrometer (OTES), the OSIRIS-REx Visual and InfraRed Spectrometer (OVIRS), the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA), and the MapCam color imager.

After completing the flyover, the spacecraft returned to orbit – but for the first time, OSIRIS-REx reversed the direction of its safe-home orbit and is now circling Bennu clockwise (as viewed from the Sun). This shift in orbital direction positioned the spacecraft for its next close encounter with the asteroid – its first rehearsal for the sample collection event.

This spring, the mission will perform two rehearsals in preparation for the sample collection event. The first rehearsal, scheduled for Apr. 14, navigates the spacecraft down to 410 feet (125 m) over Bennu's surface. At this altitude, the spacecraft will execute the Checkpoint maneuver, designed to put the spacecraft on a descent trajectory toward the sample collection site on the surface. The spacecraft will stop its descent ten minutes later at an altitude of approximately 164 ft (50 m) by executing a maneuver to back away from the asteroid. The second rehearsal, scheduled for June, follows the same trajectory but takes the spacecraft to a lower altitude of 164 feet (50 m), wh ere it will perform the Matchpoint maneuver, designed to slow the spacecraft's descent rate. Subsequent to this burn the spacecraft will execute a back away maneuver between 131 ft (40 m) and 82 ft (25 m) from Bennu's surface. The spacecraft will venture all the way to the asteroid's surface in late August, for its first attempt to collect a sample. During this event, OSIRIS-REx's sampling mechanism will touch Bennu's surface and fire a charge of pressurized nitrogen to disturb the surface and collect its sample before the spacecraft backs away.

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, provides overall mission management, systems engineering, and the safety and mission assurance for OSIRIS-REx. Dante Lauretta of the University of Arizona, Tucson, is the principal investigator, and the University of Arizona also leads the science team and the mission's science observation planning and data processing. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built the spacecraft and provides flight operations. Goddard and KinetX Aerospace are responsible for navigating the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA's New Frontiers Program, which is managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

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 Dante Lauretta‏ @DSLauretta 1 ч. назад

The first high-resolution images have been downlinked from the @OSIRISREx Nightingale sample site. The yellow box is ~5 meters across. The yellow circles illustrates the 30-cm diameter of the sampling mechanism. Looking good! #PI_Daily

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https://nauka.tass.ru/nauka/7916911

6 МАР, 15:37
OSIRIS-REx получил первые детальные снимки места посадки на астероиде Бенну
Окончательно определиться с местом посадки ученые планируют после того, как зонд составит всю карту астероида

ТАСС, 6 марта. Межпланетная станция OSIRIS-REx приблизилась к поверхности астероида Бенну на минимальное расстояние и получила первые детальные фотографии региона "Найтингейл". В конце августа туда, как планирует команда миссии, аппарат должен сесть для того, чтобы собрать пробы грунта. Об этом пишет руководитель миссии Данте Лауретта в своем Twitter.

"Бортовые системы OSIRIS-REx передали на Землю первые высококачественные фотографии региона "Найтингейл", где мы планируем осуществить первый забор грунта. Пока эта зона посадки выглядит замечательно", – написал ученый.

В начале января этого года представители NASA заявили, что космический аппарат OSIRIS-REx совершит три сближения с поверхностью астероида Бенну, во время которых он должен был получить снимки двух предположительных зон посадки, "Найтингейл" и "Оспри". Эти снимки критически важны для того, чтобы оценить, насколько эта процедура может быть безопасна.

Первая попытка осуществить эти планы состоялась в середине февраля, когда американский зонд сблизился с точкой "Оспри". При этом лазерный дальномер межпланетной станции вышел из строя во время сближения с поверхностью астероида, что негативно повлияло на качество полученных фотографий.

Потом, как отметил Лауретта, инженеры NASA не смогли оживить этот инструмент. Поэтому они перешли на альтернативную методику навигации у поверхности астероида. Этот подход, по его словам, успешно проверили в среду, когда OSIRIS-REx пролетел на высоте в 250 метров над точкой "Найтингейл" и получил ее снимки.

Сегодня зонд успешно передал эти фотографии на Землю. Благодаря этому ученые впервые смогли рассмотреть все булыжники и прочие потенциальные угрозы в зоне посадки. Результаты их изучения, как отметил Лауретта, помогут NASA подготовиться к первой репетиции посадки OSIRIS-REx на Бенну, которая состоится в середине апреля.

"Астероид судного дня"

Зонд OSIRIS-REx успешно запустили на орбиту в сентябре 2016 года в рамках миссии по сближению и сбору образцов с поверхности астероида Бенну (1999 RQ36). В недавнем прошлом астрономы считали его одной из главных космических угроз для существования жизни на нашей планете. Зонд добрался до астероида в начале декабря 2018 года.

Оказалось, что Бенну очень похож по форме и окраске на еще одно небесное тело, астероид Рюгю, который на протяжении последних полутора лет исследовала японская миссия "Хаябуса-2". В отличие от сухого и безводного Рюгю, на Бенну астрономы нашли рекордное количество воды, что сделало его еще более интересным объектом с точки зрения изучения процесса формирования Солнечной системы.

Сейчас OSIRIS-REx заканчивает составлять карту поверхности астероида. После этого ученые окончательно выберут место, откуда будет взят образец вещества массой около 60 граммов. Сейчас NASA планирует сделать это в конце августа 2020 года, если этому не помешают булыжники на поверхности небесного тела.

После забора грунта OSIRIS-REx запустит капсулу с образцами грунта в сторону Земли. Если все пройдет удачно, она упадет на территории штата Юта в конце сентября 2023 года.