Abstract
In September of 2016, the OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith EXplorer) spacecraft will depart for asteroid (101955) Bennu, and when it does, humanity will turn an important corner in the exploration of the Solar System. After arriving at the asteroid in the Fall of 2018, it will undertake a program of observations designed to select a site suitable for retrieving a sample that will be returned to the Earth in 2023. The third mission in NASA's New Frontiers program, OSIRIS-REx will obtain a minimum of 60 g of a primitive asteroid's surface, the largest sample of extra-terrestrial material returned to the Earth since the end of the Apollo lunar missions (Figure 1). OSIRIS-REx will also return a separate sample of the fine-grained surface material that is <;1 mm in diameter.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.