On September 24, 2023, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft accomplished a groundbreaking feat, delivering an unprecedented 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams) of material sourced from the asteroid Bennu. This achievement surpassed the mission’s original requirement, which sought a minimum of 60 grams of material to fulfill its scientific object[ives, demonstrating the mission’s exceptional success.
OSIRIS-REx
Before the complete opening of the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) head, the mission team had already exceeded the targeted material quantity. In October 2023, curation processors associated with NASA’s Johnson Space Center’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) division in Houston managed to collect small rocks and dust from within the TAGSAM head’s large canister. They also extracted material from inside the TAGSAM head itself, utilizing the head’s mylar flap.
However, disassembly of the TAGSAM head encountered a temporary halt in late October 2023 due to the challenge posed by two obstinate fasteners impeding the process to unveil the final sample within.
After the design, production, and testing of new tools, ARES curation engineers successfully removed the fasteners in January, completing the disassembly of the TAGSAM head. This revealed the remaining Bennu sample, meticulously poured into wedge-shaped containers. The pouring process yielded an additional 1.81 ounces (51.2 grams), supplementing the previously measured 2.48 ounces (70.3 grams) and extra particles collected outside the pour. The cumulative Bennu sample mass now stands at an impressive 4.29 ounces (121.6 grams). NASA is committed to preserving at least 70% of the sample at Johnson for ongoing research by scientists worldwide, ensuring its availability for future generations.
Following its storage at NASA Johnson’s repository, the Bennu material will be containerized and disseminated for researchers to delve into its properties. As part of the OSIRIS-REx mission, a global cohort of over 200 scientists, representing various US institutions, NASA partners such as JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), CSA (Canadian Space Agency), and more, will explore the regolith’s characteristics.
In the upcoming spring, the curation team plans to release a comprehensive catalog of the OSIRIS-REx samples, making the asteroid-derived material accessible for request by the broader global scientific community. This initiative aims to foster collaborative research and advance our understanding of the intriguing properties of the Bennu asteroid.
