OSIRIS-REx Research Articles

A Spectral Investigation of Aqueously and Thermally Altered CM, CM‐An, and CY Chondrites Under Simulated Asteroid Conditions for Comparison With OSIRIS‐REx and Hayabusa2 Observations

AbstractVolatile‐rich asteroids are crucial to understanding the transport of water and organics to the terrestrial planet forming region in the early Solar System. Observations of two such asteroids by Hayabusa2 and Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS‐REx) suggest a relationship between these bodies and CI, CM, and CY chondrites. To confirm this, meteorite spectra need to be collected under appropriate conditions for comparison with asteroid observations. We report midinfrared (MIR) emissivity spectra (5.5–50 μm) obtained under ambient and simulated asteroid environment conditions and near‐infrared (NIR) reflectance spectra (2–5 μm) of CM and CY chondrite fine‐particulate (<35 μm) powders for which bulk mineralogy was determined using X‐ray diffraction. Reflectance spectra show a 3 μm feature associated with ‐OH/H2O that shifts from shorter (∼2.72 μm) to longer (∼2.90 μm) wavelengths and develops a rounder shape and reduced band area with increasing thermal metamorphism. In the MIR, the transparency feature (TF) and features in the Si‐O bending region (>15 μm) can be used to infer the relative degree of aqueous alteration, and to resolve the effects of aqueous and thermal alteration, when combined with NIR spectral parameters. The MIR spectra of metamorphosed CY chondrites are distinct from CM chondrite spectra, including a plateau around the Christiansen feature (∼8.00–12.50 μm) and features at longer wavelengths in the Si‐O bending region (e.g., ∼25.50 μm compared to ∼24.30 μm in the CM spectra). We additionally report potential implications of the spectra and parameters determined in this study for the results from Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS‐REx.

Volatile-rich Asteroids in the Inner Solar System

Abstract Bennu (101195), target of the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission, is a type-B asteroid with abundant spectral evidence for hydrated silicates, low thermal inertia “boulders” and frequent bursts of particle emission. We suggest that Bennu’s parent body formed in the outer solar system before it was perturbed into the asteroid belt and then evolved into a near-Earth object. We show that this is consistent with models of planetesimal evolution. Bennu has many characteristics expected for a dormant comet, and could potentially contain a minimum of 1 wt.% adsorbed water if its gross mineralogy is consistent with the Orgueil meteorite. This is in addition to any ice or water contained within the hydrous minerals themselves. Based on this hypothesis, we predict the properties of the samples that will be returned to Earth by the OSIRIS-REx mission, including abundant phyllosilicate minerals, amorphous hydrated silicates and low-density, very high-porosity aggregates, already observed by the OSIRIS-REx instrument suite. We predict enrichments in D/H and 15N/14N, high C/Mg ratios (>∼7 wt%), and a greater range of organic compositions than found in meteorites, including an organic component poor in aromatics, and a more labile organic fraction. Ammonium salts, ranging from NH4Cl to ammonium–organic acid salts could carry much of the nitrogen in comets, yet only NH4CH3COO and heavier salts are sufficiently stable to be found in these returned samples. Water adsorbed onto highly porous grains should also be detected provided that the sample return capsule remains below 300 K during Earth return, and this water should be isotopically heavy.

Space Weathering Affects the Remote Near-IR Identification of Phyllosilicates

Abstract Near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers on board current sample return missions Hayabusa2 and the Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) from primitive bodies detected the presence of hydrated silicates on the surface of asteroids Ryugu and Bennu, respectively. These detections relied upon the study of the 2.7 μm OH-stretching spectral feature, whose peak position is related to the composition and structure of minerals. However, space weathering might alter the band profile, depth and position, thus complicating the interpretation of remote sensing data. In order to better understand these processes and provide support to space missions, we performed ion bombardment experiments on serpentine and saponite analogs. These two phyllosilicates are among the dominant mineral phases found in hydrated carbonaceous chondrites, which are possible analogs to surface materials observed on these primitive asteroids. We studied the behavior of the 2.7 μm band as a function of ion fluence and found that the evolution of the phyllosilicate depends on its nature. For the saponite sample, the band is only slightly affected by ion bombardment, while for both serpentine samples it shifts toward longer wavelengths. For both samples, peak intensity and width is not strongly affected. The band shift for serpentine indicates that space weathering introduces a bias in the interpretation of NIR remote sensing observations of phyllosilicates. The shift observed in our experiments can be detected by instruments on board Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx, depending on the geometry of observation. Our findings provide support to the interpretation of such data.

Variations in color and reflectance on the surface of asteroid (101955) Bennu.

Visible-wavelength color and reflectance provide information about the geologic history of planetary surfaces. Here we present multispectral images (0.44 to 0.89 micrometers) of near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu. The surface has variable colors overlain on a moderately blue global terrain. Two primary boulder types are distinguishable by their reflectance and texture. Space weathering of Bennu surface materials does not simply progress from red to blue (or vice versa). Instead, freshly exposed, redder surfaces initially brighten in the near-ultraviolet region (i.e., become bluer at shorter wavelengths), then brighten in the visible to near-infrared region, leading to Bennu's moderately blue average color. Craters indicate that the time scale of these color changes is ~105 years. We attribute the reflectance and color variation to a combination of primordial heterogeneity and varying exposure ages.

Spectral characterization of analog samples in anticipation of OSIRIS-REx's arrival at Bennu: A blind test study

We present spectral measurements of a suite of mineral mixtures and meteorites that are possible analogs for asteroid (101955) Bennu, the target asteroid for NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission. The sample suite, which includes anhydrous and hydrated mineral mixtures and a suite of chondritic meteorites (CM, CI, CV, CR, and L5), was chosen to characterize the spectral effects due to varying amounts of aqueous alteration and minor amounts of organic material. Our results demonstrate the utility of mineral mixtures for understanding the mixing behavior of meteoritic materials and identifying spectrally dominant species across the visible to near-infrared (VNIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) spectral ranges. Our measurements demonstrate that, even with subtle signatures in the spectra of chondritic meteorites, we can identify diagnostic features related to the minerals comprising each of the samples. Also, the complementary nature of the two spectral ranges regarding their ability to detect different mixture and meteorite components can be used to characterize analog sample compositions better. However, we observe differences in the VNIR and TIR spectra between the mineral mixtures and the meteorites. These differences likely result from (1) differences in the types and physical disposition of constituents in the mixtures versus in meteorites, (2) missing phases observed in meteorites that we did not add to the mixtures, and (3) albedo differences among the samples. In addition to the initial characterization of the analog samples, we will use these spectral measurements to test phase detection and abundance determination algorithms in anticipation of mapping Bennu's surface properties and selecting a sampling site.

In-Flight Calibration and Performance of the OSIRIS-REx Visible and IR Spectrometer (OVIRS)

Performance of the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) Visible and InfraRed Spectrometer (OVIRS) instrument was validated, showing that it met all science requirements during extensive thermal vacuum ground testing. Preliminary instrument radiometric calibration coefficients and wavelength mapping were also determined before instrument delivery and launch using NIST-traceable sources. One year after launch, Earth flyby data were used to refine the wavelength map by comparing OVIRS spectra with atmospheric models. Near-simultaneous data from other Earth-orbiting satellites were used to cross-calibrate the OVIRS absolute radiometric response, particularly at visible wavelengths. Trending data from internal calibration sources and the Sun show that instrument radiometric performance has been stable to better than 1% in the 18 months since launch.

The OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA) Investigation and Instrument

The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has contributed to the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA). The OSIRIS-REx mission will sample asteroid 101955 Bennu, the first B-type asteroid to be visited by a spacecraft. Bennu is thought to be primitive, carbonaceous, and spectrally most closely related to CI and/or CM meteorites. As a scanning laser altimeter, the OLA instrument will measure the range between the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and the surface of Bennu to produce digital terrain maps of unprecedented spatial scales for a planetary mission. The digital terrain maps produced will measure $\sim7~\mbox{cm}$ per pixel globally, and $\sim3~\mbox{cm}$ per pixel at specific sample sites. In addition, OLA data will be used to constrain and refine the spacecraft trajectories. Global maps and highly accurate spacecraft trajectory estimates are critical to infer the internal structure of the asteroid. The global and regional maps also are key to gain new insights into the surface processes acting across Bennu, which inform the selection of the OSIRIS-REx sample site. These, in turn, are essential for understanding the provenance of the regolith sample collected by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The OLA data also are important for quantifying any hazards near the selected OSIRIS-REx sample site and for evaluating the range of tilts at the sampling site for comparison against the capabilities of the sample acquisition device.

Model-Based Systems Engineering approach for the development of the science processing and operations center of the NASA OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission

The Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) asteroid sample return mission, which is planned for launch in 2016, will study and return a sample from asteroid Bennu to Earth for further detailed analysis. This mission is unique in that little information about Bennu, including the gravity field, shape model, and thermal environment, is well known at this time. This information will instead be determined via a thorough close-proximity operations phase that will fully characterize and analyze the asteroid prior to retrieving the sample, requiring a complex ground system architecture in order to provide scientists the necessary information to make key decisions regarding sample collection. Importantly, the OSIRIS-REx Science Processing and Operations Center (SPOC) is at the heart of the process to characterize the asteroid and collect the sample, as its high level functions include the data processing necessary to fully analyze the information from the spacecraft and the generation of instrument observation sequences to collect the necessary data. These factors necessitate a strong systems engineering focus across the project. The SPOC team has chosen to tackle this problem by utilizing a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach to facilitate the development of the OSIRIS-REx ground system, and more specifically, the SPOC. MBSE is a relatively new approach that formally applies modeling to support system requirements, design, analysis, and verification and validation activities, and only recently been used in the development of the ground system of a space mission. As such, this approach has been lauded in key mission reviews as a significant strength of the project, especially for its ability to provide a consistent approach for the entire ground systems team. Importantly, the MBSE approach has provided many benefits to the SPOC Systems Engineering team. In particular, the MBSE approach has been utilized to generate a consistent architecture across all ground system elements, to manage all OSIRIS-REx ground system requirements easily in one location, to perform verification and validation of these requirements, and to validate the ground system operations time line. Further, through the use of common tools, project systems׳ engineers can quickly and efficiently generate documentation based on the developed model, including interface, requirements, and verification documentation. Finally, these same tools allow for the potential future re-usability of the development currently being performed for use in future mission architectures.

Clues to the origin of life from OSIRIS-REx

Clues to the origin of life from OSIRIS-REx

NASA selects asteroid mission for New Frontiers Program

NASA has selected an unmanned mission to study and return samples from a carbonaceous asteroid as the third mission in its New Frontiers Program, the agency announced on 25 May. The Origins‐Spectral Interpretation‐Resource Identification‐Security‐Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS‐REx) is scheduled for a 2016 launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., and a 2023 return to Utah's Test and Training Range. It will be the first U.S. mission to return samples from an asteroid to Earth and the first to return asteroid samples that could help scientists understand organics on Earth. The mission aims to sample the approximately 1900‐foot‐diameter asteroid, 1999 RQ36, which is named for the year it was discovered. This asteroid is “kind of a time capsule from 4.5 billion years ago, when the solar system formed,” according to OSIRIS‐REx principal investigator Michael Drake, director of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona, Tucson, which NASA selected to lead the mission. The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., is managing the mission, and Lockheed Martin will build the spacecraft. The mission is expected to cost $800 million, excluding the $1 billion launch vehicle.