A view of the outside of the OSIRIS-REx sample collector. Sample product from asteroid Bennu can be seen on the middle. The group has actually been working to establish and implement new techniques to extract the material inside the head, while continuing to keep the sample beautiful and safe.
Taken on October 27, 2020, this imaging sequence reveals NASAs OSIRIS-REx spacecraft effectively positioning its sample collector head into the Sample Return Capsule (SRC). The series starts with the collector head hovering over the SRC after the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) arm and moving it into the appropriate position for capture.
The sample processed so far consists of the rocks and dust found on the exterior of the sampler head, in addition to a portion of the bulk sample from inside the head, which was accessed through the heads mylar flap. Additional material staying inside the sampler head, called the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism, or TAGSAM, is set for elimination later, adding to the mass overall.
OSIRIS-REx curation staff member at NASAs Johnson Space Center start the process of eliminating and flipping the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Mechanism) from the avionics deck of the science container. Credit: NASA/James Blair
Difficulties in Sample Extraction
In the last week, the group at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston altered its method to opening the TAGSAM head, which contained the bulk of the rocks and dust collected by the spacecraft in 2020. After several efforts at removal, the group found two of the 35 fasteners on the TAGSAM head could not be eliminated with the current tools authorized for usage in the OSIRIS-REx glovebox. The group has been working to develop and implement new approaches to draw out the product inside the head, while continuing to keep the sample safe and beautiful.
As a primary step, the group effectively accessed a few of the product by holding down the heads mylar flap and removing the sample inside with tweezers or a scoop, depending on material size. The collection and containment of product through this approach, integrated with the earlier collection of material located outside the head, yielded an overall mass exceeding the 60 grams required.
Taken on October 27, 2020, this imaging sequence reveals NASAs OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully placing its sample collector head into the Sample Return Capsule (SRC). The series begins with the collector head hovering over the SRC after the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) arm and moving it into the correct position for capture. At the end of the series, the collector head is protected onto the capture ring in the SRC.
Future Steps and Preservation
The team will spend the next couple of weeks establishing and practicing a brand-new treatment to eliminate the staying asteroid sample from the TAGSAM sampler head while at the same time processing the material that was gathered this week. The OSIRIS-REx science team will likewise proceed with its plan to identify the extracted product and begin analysis of the bulk sample obtained up until now.
All curation deal with the sample– and the TAGSAM head– is performed in a specialized glovebox under a circulation of nitrogen to keep it from being exposed to Earths atmosphere, preserving the samples pristine state for subsequent clinical analysis. The tools for any proposed service to draw out the remaining product from the head must have the ability to fit inside the glovebox and not jeopardize the scientific stability of the collection, and any procedures need to be consistent with the tidy spaces standards.
While the procedure to access the last part of the product is being developed, the group has actually gotten rid of the TAGSAM head from the active flow of nitrogen in the glovebox and saved it in its transfer container, sealed with an O-ring and surrounded by a sealed Teflon bag to make certain the sample is protected in a steady, nitrogen-rich, environment.
A view of the exterior of the OSIRIS-REx sample collector. Test material from asteroid Bennu can be seen on the middle.
NASA effectively gathered 70 grams from asteroid Bennu, surpassing their 60-gram goal. Despite difficulties with extraction, more product waits for collection as the group makes sure the samples purity.
The curation team processing NASAs asteroid Bennu sample has actually eliminated and collected 2.48 ounces (70.3 grams) of rocks and dust from the sampler hardware– going beyond the agencys goal of bringing a minimum of 60 grams to Earth.
And the bright side is, theres still more of NASAs OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security– Regolith Explorer) sample to gather.
