Orbital Web Around Asteroid to Capture Sample| 4K | NASA
he phrase "Orbital Web Around Asteroid to Capture Sample" refers to a maneuver performed by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft around the asteroid 101955 Bennu. The spacecraft used a technique called the "Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism" (TAGSAM) to collect a sample from the asteroid's surface. Here are the key details about this mission:
NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission arrived at asteroid 101955 Bennu in late 2018 [1]. The spacecraft performed a slingshot maneuver, known as the "Orbital Web," to establish a stable orbit around the asteroid [2] [3] [4]. This maneuver involved flying in close proximity to the asteroid and mapping its surface to select a suitable site for sample collection.
On October 20, 2020, OSIRIS-REx successfully touched the surface of Bennu with its TAGSAM instrument, which uses a burst of nitrogen gas to stir up and capture regolith (loose surface material) [4]. The goal was to collect at least 60 grams (2.1 ounces) of regolith from the asteroid's surface [7]. After the sample collection, the spacecraft performed a back-away burn to safely move away from the asteroid [7].
The sample collection was a critical part of the mission as it aimed to bring back pristine material from an asteroid for further study on Earth [5]. This material could provide insights into the early solar system and the origins of life on Earth.
Following the successful sample collection, OSIRIS-REx departed from Bennu on May 10, 2021, and is currently on its return voyage to Earth [7]. The spacecraft is expected to deliver the collected sample to Earth in September 2023.
Overall, the "Orbital Web Around Asteroid to Capture Sample" refers to the maneuver performed by NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to establish a stable orbit around asteroid 101955 Bennu and successfully collect a sample from its surface using the TAGSAM instrument [1] [2] [3] [4] [7].