NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Exceeds Asteroid Sample Retrieval Target

The exterior of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx sample gathering apparatus shows sample material from asteroid Bennu visible on its middle right section. Preliminary analysis of this material has revealed the presence of carbon and water. The majority of the sample is secured within the collector. Photo Credits: NASA/Erika Blumenfeld & Joseph Aebersold

NASA has successfully harvested 70 grams of material from asteroid Bennu, exceeding its original goal of 60 grams. Even with obstacles in the extraction process, further material is available for collection as the team works to ensure the purity of the acquired sample.

The team responsible for the curation of NASA’s Bennu asteroid sample has successfully obtained 2.48 ounces (70.3 grams) of asteroid particles and dust from the sampling hardware, thus surpassing the agency’s objective of gathering at least 60 grams for return to Earth.

Furthermore, there remains additional material from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer) for future collection.

The current sample includes particles and dust situated on the exterior of the sampling head, as well as a part of the larger sample contained within the head, accessed through a mylar flap on the head. More material, currently inside what is termed the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM), is slated for subsequent extraction, contributing to the overall mass.

Members of the OSIRIS-REx curation team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center have initiated the process of detaching and inverting the TAGSAM from the avionics deck within the scientific canister. Photo Credits: NASA/James Blair

Obstacles in Sample Extraction

Over the past week, NASA’s Johnson Space Center team has modified its technique for opening the TAGSAM head, which holds most of the particles and dust gathered by the spacecraft in 2020. Following several unsuccessful attempts, it was discovered that two out of 35 fasteners on the TAGSAM head were not removable using the currently approved tools in the OSIRIS-REx glovebox. Efforts are underway to devise and apply new methods for the extraction of the material contained within the head, while maintaining the sample’s integrity.

Initially, some material was successfully accessed by manipulating the head’s mylar flap and utilizing tweezers or a scoop to remove the sample, depending on its size. This method, in conjunction with the earlier acquired material from the exterior of the head, has led to a cumulative mass that exceeds the 60-gram requirement.

Future Procedures and Sample Preservation

In the weeks ahead, the team will formulate and rehearse new protocols for extracting the remaining asteroid material from the TAGSAM head, while concurrently processing the already collected sample. Plans are also in motion to characterize the extracted material and commence analysis of the major sample acquired thus far.

All curation activities are conducted in a specialized glovebox filled with nitrogen to prevent exposure to Earth’s atmosphere, thereby preserving the sample’s original state for subsequent scientific evaluation. Any solutions proposed for additional extraction must be compatible with the glovebox dimensions and should not jeopardize the scientific credibility of the gathered material, while also adhering to clean room standards.

In the interim, as the final extraction method is being established, the TAGSAM head has been removed from the active nitrogen flow within the glovebox. It is now stored in a transfer container that is sealed with an O-ring and encased in a sealed Teflon bag, ensuring the sample’s stability in a nitrogen-rich environment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about OSIRIS-REx mission

More about OSIRIS-REx mission

• OSIRIS-REx Mission Overview
• NASA’s Asteroid Sampling Mission
• Challenges in Space Material Extraction
• Scientific Goals of Asteroid Sampling
• NASA’s Johnson Space Center
• Asteroid Bennu: Facts and Figures