OSIRIS-REx will launch in 2016 and return a sample of carbonaceous asteroid regolith to earth in 2023. Examining this sample will provide valuable information on the formation of life on earth and on how the Yarkovsky effect influences the asteroid's trajectory. Bennu was chosen as the target asteroid for this mission since it has the 2nd highest rating on the Palermo Technical Impact Hazard Scale.

1. OSIRIS-REx
Quirijn Frederix

3. Table of contents
• Introduction
• Mission objectives
• Why Bennu?
• Previous research
• Instrumentation
• Conclusion

4. Table of contents
• Introduction
• Mission objectives
• Why Bennu?
• Previous research
• Instrumentation
• Conclusion

5. Introduction
• “Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification
Security Regolith Explorer”
Bennu
OSIRIS-REx

6. Table of contents
• Introduction
• Mission objectives
• Why Bennu?
• Previous research
• Instrumentation
• Conclusion

7. Mission objectives
Where 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.

8. Table of contents
• Introduction
• Mission objectives
• Why Bennu?
• Previous research
• Instrumentation
• Conclusion

9. Why Bennu?
• “Near-Earth Asteroid”
• Perihelion = 0.897AU, Aphelion = 1.356AU
• Inclination = 6.035°
• B-type asteroid; Organic compounds and water

10. 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?

11. 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?

12. 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?

13. 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?

14. 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?

15. 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?

16. Table of contents
• Introduction
• Mission objectives
• Why Bennu?
• Previous research
• Instrumentation
• Conclusion

17. Yarkovsky effect

18. Observations of Bennu
• Hershel, Spitzer, VLT/VISIR
• Thermal inertia: 310 J/m²/s^0.5/K
o Tells a lot about particle size, rock abundance, bedrock outcropping
• Albedo: 0.045
o Low value: primitive composition, organic compounds

19. Similar missions
• Galileo and NEAR Shoemaker
o 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 Itokawa
o Returned <4,000 dust samples in 2013
o S-type asteroid; iron- and magnesium-silicates
o Thermal inertia ↔ regolith
o Minerealogy and chemistry identical to LL chondrite meteorites
• Several insights used on OSIRIS-REx

20. Table of contents
• Introduction
• Mission objectives
• Why Bennu?
• Previous research
• Instrumentation
• Conclusion

21. 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 7,5km
o Low Energy for altitudes of 500m to 1km
• CSA receives 4% of sample in return

22. OSIRIS-REx CAMera Suite (OCAMS)
• Developed by University of Arizona
SamCam
MapCam PolyCam

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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 arm
Head of TAGSAM arm

27. OSIRIS-REx

28. Table of contents
• Introduction
• Mission objectives
• Why Bennu?
• Previous research
• Instrumentation
• Conclusion

29. 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

30. Raise your hand
if you
a question