OSIRIS-REx TAG Events

NASA is hosting a press briefing on Oct. 21 to unveil new videos of the OSIRIS-REx sample collection attempt.The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft unfurled its robotic arm on Oct. 20, and in a first for the agency, briefly touched an asteroid to collect dust and pebbles from the surface for delivery to Earth in 2023.This well-preserved, ancient asteroid, known as Bennu, is currently more than 200 million miles (321 million kilometers) from Earth. Bennu offers scientists a window into the early solar system as it was first taking shape billions of years ago and flinging ingredients that could have helped seed life on Earth. If the sample collection event, known as “Touch-And-Go” (TAG), provided enough of a sample, mission teams will command the spacecraft to begin stowing the precious primordial cargo to begin its journey back to Earth in March 2021. 1. Lauretta - TAG Movie 1Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 2. Lauretta - TAG Movie 2Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 3. Lauretta - TAG Movie 3Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 1. Burns - TAGSAM ExplainedOSIRIS-REx descended to the surface of asteroid Bennu to collect a sample of fine-grained material from site Nightingale using its TAGSAM instrument.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab 2. Burns - Nightingale Hazard Map and TAG LocationCredit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona 3. Burns - BackawayAfter collecting the sample of Bennu, OSIRIS-REx fired its thrusters and backed away to a safe distance from the asteroid.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab/SVS 1. Freund - Sample Imaging VerificationOSIRIS-REx will use its SamCam instrument to visually inspect the TAGSAM head and verify sample collection.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab 2. Freund - Sample Mass MeasurementTo measure the mass of the collected sample, OSIRIS-REx will extend its TAGSAM arm and perform a spin maneuver.Credit: NASA/Goddard/CI Lab 1. BridenstineNASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Credit: NASA 1. ZurbuchenNASA Science Associate Administrator Dr. Thomas H. Zurbuchen. Credit: NASA For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex) Related pages

Real-time animation of the OSIRIS-REx Touch-And-Go (TAG) Event. This animation accurately depicts the spacecraft's journey to the surface of Bennu. On October 20, 2020, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touched down on near-Earth asteroid Bennu and collected a sample of pristine material for return to Earth. The Touch-And-Go (TAG) Event was a feat of engineering, carefully monitored by mission controllers at Lockheed Martin Space and broadcast live on NASA-TV.During the broadcast, the real-time animation above allowed viewers to follow OSIRIS-REx as it slowly maneuvered to the surface of Bennu. This animation is based on the spacecraft's nominal trajectory and an accurate 3D model of the asteroid's terrain. Broadcast playback was adjusted for the light-time delay from Bennu to Earth (plus signal processing), providing viewers with a real-time window onto the TAG Event.Highlights can be found at the following animation time steps (hours: minutes: seconds):00:29:03 - First move to Y-Wing configuration00:34:29 - Second move to Y-Wing configuration00:39:54 - Y-Wing configuration complete00:43:27 - Checkpoint engine burn start00:54:34 - Matchpoint engine burn start01:05:10 - TOUCH asteroid Bennu01:05:18 - Back-away engine burn start01:06:43 - Begin slew to Pegasus configurationAnimation frames are organized into chapters for ease of download. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex) Related pages

The Checkpoint burn sends OSIRIS-REx toward sample site Nightingale. SamCam imaging sequence, from Checkpoint to Matchpoint, simulating one frame per minute. The Matchpoint burn zeroes out OSIRIS-REx's horizontal velocity relative to site Nightingale, so that the spacecraft does not tip over during TAG. SamCam imaging sequence, from Matchpoint to TAG, simulating one frame every 15 seconds. OSIRIS-REx will use an onboard Hazard Map to autonomously determine whether it is safe to touch down on Bennu's rocky surface at the predicted point of contact. After OSIRIS-REx touches down on Bennu, it will fire nitrogen gas into the surface to stir up and capture loose material, then it will back away to a safe distance from the asteroid. The TAGSAM mechanism will fire nitrogen gas into Bennu's surface, creating a reverse vacuum in order to capture small rocks and dust inside the sampler head. After touching Bennu's surface for only a few seconds, OSIRIS-REx will fire its thrusters and back away to a safe distance with its precious cargo. This media resource page provides animations of the OSIRIS-REx Touch-And-Go (TAG) event. OSIRIS-REx is NASA's first asteroid-sample return mission. Its goal is to study near-Earth asteroid Bennu and return a sample to Earth in 2023. The primary sample site for TAG is a small crater called Nightingale, which is surrounded by large boulders that could pose a hazard to the spacecraft.All animations available in 4K Ultra HD resolution. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex) Related pages

This visualization depicts the OSIRIS-REx TAG on October 20, 2020. The OSIRIS-REx satellite is represented by an orange dot and trail. The visualization begins with the satellite’s departure from orbit and continues through the checkpoint, matchpoint, TAG, and backaway maneuvers. This is a closer view of the TAG, focusing on the checkpoint, matchpoint, TAG, and backaway maneuvers. White labels appear to highlight checkpoint and matchpoint. The TAG location is indicated with a marker that changes from white to green once the TAG has occurred. This a closer view of the TAG in a Bennu-fixed reference frame. A thin green line shows the future trajectory of OSIRIS-REx down to the TAG site. White labels appear to highlight checkpoint and matchpoint maneuvers. The TAG location is indicated with a marker that changes from white to green once the TAG has occurred. This is a view of the TAG event from the perspective of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The visualization begins with the satellite’s departure from orbit and continues through the checkpoint, matchpoint, TAG, and backaway maneuvers. This is a view of the TAG event from the perspective of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The visualization begins with the satellite’s departure from orbit and continues through the checkpoint, matchpoint, TAG, and backaway maneuvers. This version is about four times slower than the previous version and includes more of the backaway. This is a slower view of the TAG event from the perspective of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The visualization begins just after the checkpoint maneuver and continues through matchpoint, TAG, and backaway. On Oct. 20, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will perform the first attempt of its Touch-And-Go (TAG) sample collection event. This series of maneuvers will bring the spacecraft down to site Nightingale, a rocky area 52 ft (16 m) in diameter in Bennu’s northern hemisphere, where the spacecraft’s robotic sampling arm will attempt to collect a sample. Site Nightingale was selected as the mission’s primary sample site because it holds the greatest amount of unobstructed fine-grained material, but the region is surrounded by building-sized boulders. During the sampling event, the spacecraft, which is the size of a large van, will attempt to touch down in an area that is only the size of a few parking spaces, and just a few steps away from some of these large boulders.During the 4.5-hour sample collection event, the spacecraft will perform three separate maneuvers to reach the asteroid’s surface. The descent sequence begins with OSIRIS-REx firing its thrusters for an orbit departure maneuver to leave its safe-home orbit approximately 2,500 feet (770 meters) from Bennu's surface. After traveling four hours on this downward trajectory, the spacecraft performs the “Checkpoint” maneuver at an approximate altitude of 410 ft (125 m). This thruster burn adjusts OSIRIS-REx’s position and speed to descend steeply toward the surface. About 11 minutes later, the spacecraft performs the “Matchpoint” burn at an approximate altitude of 177 ft (54 m), slowing its descent and targeting a path to match the asteroid's rotation at the time of contact. The spacecraft then descends to the surface, touches down for less than sixteen seconds and fires one of its three pressurized nitrogen bottles. The gas agitates and lifts Bennu’s surface material, which is then caught in the spacecraft’s collector head. After this brief touch, OSIRIS-REx fires its thrusters to back away from Bennu’s surface and navigates to a safe distance from the asteroid. Related pages

NASA's Asteroid Heist: The Challenges of TAG. Universal Production Music: "Avenger" by Max Cameron Concors; "Fight for Earth" by Peter NickallsWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel. NASA’s first asteroid sample return mission, OSIRIS-REx, will make a daring attempt to “TAG” asteroid Bennu on Oct. 20 – touch its surface and collect a sample for return to Earth. Sample site Nightingale, the mission’s targeted touch down spot, is only a few parking spaces wide and surrounded by building-sized boulders that pose a hazard to OSIRIS-REx. The spacecraft will carefully navigate down to the sample site with its sampling arm extended and touch Bennu’s surface for several seconds. Upon contact, the collector head will fire a bottle of nitrogen gas to agitate loose material, which is then caught in the spacecraft’s collector head. After this brief touch, OSIRIS-REx will fire its thrusters to back away from Bennu, navigating to a safe distance from the asteroid. The spacecraft will depart Bennu in 2021 and deliver the sample to Earth on Sep. 24, 2023. For More InformationSee [NASA.gov](https://www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex) Related pages