Credit: NASA/Robert MarkowitzNASAs Johnson Space Center group got rid of technical obstacles to access more of the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample, going beyond collection objectives and setting the phase for a comprehensive sample catalog release.Curation group members at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston have actually successfully removed the 2 fasteners from the sampler head that had actually avoided the remainder of OSIRIS-RExs asteroid Bennu sample product from being accessed.Steps now are underway to finish the disassembly of the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism, or TAGSAM, head to expose the rest of the rocks and dust provided by NASAs very first asteroid sample return mission.A view of the TAGSAM (Touch and Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) from above, showing the Mylar flap with a pile of asteroid material resting on it. After each successful test, engineers increased the assembly torque values and duplicated the testing treatments up until the team was confident the new tools would be able to attain the torque needed while reducing the threat of any possible damage to the TAGSAM head or any contamination of the sample within.Despite not being able to fully disassemble the TAGSAM head, the curation group members had already collected 2.48 ounces (70.3 grams) of asteroid product from the sample hardware, exceeding the agencys goal of bringing at least 60 grams to Earth. They have actually satisfied all the sample demands gotten from the OSIRIS-REx science team so far and have actually hermetically sealed some of the Bennu sample for better preservation over long timescales (e.g., multiple decades), storing some at ambient temperature conditions and others at -112 Fahrenheit (-80 degrees Celsius).
Credit: NASA/Robert MarkowitzNASAs Johnson Space Center group got rid of technical difficulties to access more of the OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample, surpassing collection objectives and setting the phase for a thorough sample catalog release.Curation group members at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston have actually successfully removed the 2 fasteners from the sampler head that had prevented the rest of OSIRIS-RExs asteroid Bennu sample product from being accessed.Steps now are underway to complete the disassembly of the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism, or TAGSAM, head to reveal the rest of the rocks and dust delivered by NASAs first asteroid sample return mission.A view of the TAGSAM (Touch and Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) from above, showing the Mylar flap with a pile of asteroid material resting on it. After each effective test, engineers increased the assembly torque values and repeated the screening treatments up until the team was positive the new tools would be able to attain the torque required while decreasing the danger of any potential damage to the TAGSAM head or any contamination of the sample within.Despite not being able to fully dismantle the TAGSAM head, the curation group members had currently collected 2.48 ounces (70.3 grams) of asteroid product from the sample hardware, surpassing the firms goal of bringing at least 60 grams to Earth. They have fulfilled all the sample demands received from the OSIRIS-REx science group so far and have hermetically sealed some of the Bennu sample for much better conservation over long timescales (e.g., numerous years), saving some at ambient temperature level conditions and others at -112 Fahrenheit (-80 degrees Celsius).
