OSIRIS-REx

Quirijn Frederix

Table of contents

• Introduction

• Mission objectives

• Why Bennu?

• Previous research

• Instrumentation

• Conclusion

Table of contents

• Introduction

• Mission objectives

• Why Bennu?

• Previous research

• Instrumentation

• Conclusion

Introduction

• “Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer”

Bennu

OSIRIS-REx

Table of contents

• Introduction

• Mission objectives

• Why Bennu?

• Previous research

• Instrumentation

• Conclusion

Mission objectivesWhere did life and the oceans on earth originate from?• Return and analyze a sample of pristine carbonaceous asteroid

regolith in an amount sufficient to study the nature, history, and distribution of its constituent minerals and organic material.

• Map the global properties, chemistry, and mineralogy of a primitive carbonaceous asteroid to characterize its geologic and dynamic history and provide context for the returned samples.

• Document the texture, morphology, geochemistry, and spectral properties of the regolith at the sampling site in situ at scales down to the submillimeter.

• Measure the Yarkovsky effect on a potentially hazardous asteroid and constrain the asteroid properties that contribute to this effect.

• Characterize the integrated global properties of a primitive carbonaceous asteroid to allow for direct comparison with ground-based telescopic data of the entire asteroid population.

Table of contents

• Introduction

• Mission objectives

• Why Bennu?

• Previous research

• Instrumentation

• Conclusion

Why Bennu?

• “Near-Earth Asteroid”

• Perihelion = 0.897AU, Aphelion = 1.356AU

• Inclination = 6.035°

• B-type asteroid; Organic compounds and water

Bennu

5 Carbonaceous

26 Large enough (>200m)

1,000 Optimal orbits

>10,000 Near Earth Asteroids

>600,000 Asteroids in the solar system

Why Bennu?

Bennu

5 Carbonaceous

26 Large enough (>200m)

1,000 Optimal orbits

>10,000 Near Earth Asteroids

>600,000 Asteroids in the solar system

Why Bennu?

Bennu

5 Carbonaceous

26 Large enough (>200m)

± 1,000 Optimal orbits

>10,000 Near Earth Asteroids

>600,000 Asteroids in the solar system

Why Bennu?

Bennu

5 Carbonaceous

26 Large enough (>200m)

± 1,000 Optimal orbits

>10,000 Near Earth Asteroids

>600,000 Asteroids in the solar system

Why Bennu?

Bennu

5 Carbonaceous

26 Large enough (>200m)

± 1,000 Optimal orbits

>10,000 Near Earth Asteroids

>600,000 Asteroids in the solar system

Why Bennu?

Bennu

5 Carbonaceous

26 Large enough (>200m)

± 1,000 Optimal orbits

>10,000 Near Earth Asteroids

>600,000 Asteroids in the solar system

Why Bennu?

Table of contents

• Introduction

• Mission objectives

• Why Bennu?

• Previous research

• Instrumentation

• Conclusion

Yarkovsky effect

Observations of Bennu

• Hershel, Spitzer, VLT/VISIR

• Thermal inertia: 310 J/m²/s^0.5/Ko Tells a lot about particle size, rock abundance, bedrock outcropping

• Albedo: 0.045o Low value: primitive composition, organic compounds

Similar missions

• Galileo and NEAR Shoemakero help understand characteristics of asteroids in general, their

relationship to meteorites and comets, and conditions in the early solar system

• Hayabusa: Sample and return of 25143 Itokawao Returned <4,000 dust samples in 2013o S-type asteroid; iron- and magnesium-silicateso Thermal inertia ↔ regolith o Minerealogy and chemistry identical to LL chondrite meteorites

• Several insights used on OSIRIS-REx

Table of contents

• Introduction

• Mission objectives

• Why Bennu?

• Previous research

• Instrumentation

• Conclusion

OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA)

• LIDAR

• 3D map of shape, topography, distribution of boulders and rocks of Bennu with 160M measurements

• CSA work together with MacDonald, Dettwiller and Associates Ltd under a $9M contract

• 2 transmitters used:o High Energy for altitudes of 1 to 7,5kmo Low Energy for altitudes of 500m to 1km

• CSA receives 4% of sample in return

OSIRIS-REx CAMera Suite (OCAMS)

• Developed by University of Arizona

SamCam

MapCam PolyCam

OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emission Spectrometer (OTES)

• Measures emitted spectrum of wavelengths between 5-50μm with Fourier Transform Spectroscopy

• Determine minerals present and thermal inertia of surface

• Helps in characterizing Yarkovsky effect and selecting sample site

• Built by University of Arizona

OSIRIS-REx Visible and InfraRed Spectrometer (OVIRS)

• Measurements of spectrum with wavelengths 0.4-4.3μm

• Linear variable filter, 512x512 HgCdTe detector

• Identify volatile and organic-rich regions

• Passively cooled such that Tfocal plane = 105K

• Assembled and tested at Goddard Space Flight Center

REgolith X-ray Imaging Spectrometer (REXIS)

• Student collaboration experiment between MITs Space Systems Lab and Harvard College Observatory

• Measure X-rays from fluorescence effect of regolith with solar wind

• Map elemental abundance on Bennu

• Resolution better than 50m

Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) and Sample Return Capsule (SRC)

• Collect between 60g and 2kg of regolith

• Contact surface for about 5s

• Annular flow of N2 to fluidize regolith (3 attempts possible)

Sample acquisition armHead of TAGSAM arm

OSIRIS-REx

Table of contents

• Introduction

• Mission objectives

• Why Bennu?

• Previous research

• Instrumentation

• Conclusion

Conclusion

• OSIRIS-Rex will return a sample of asteroid regolith by 2023

• Analysis of the organic compound containing sample will provide vital clues to the origine of life on earth

• Measurements of Bennu’s surface properties and radiation will help us understand the Yarkovsky effect and how it affects its chance of impact on earth

• The mission will undoubtedly unveil many unexpected data and provide information for generations to come

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