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Hey everyone, this is @adamspacemann and I'll be taking over this account to tweet all about the exciting @OSIRISREx sample collection attempt in about an hour.
Here's my feature on comets and asteroids: https://knowablemagazine.org/article/physical-world/2020/seeking-surprises-comets-and-asteroids
Here's my feature on comets and asteroids: https://knowablemagazine.org/article/physical-world/2020/seeking-surprises-comets-and-asteroids
NASA's @OSIRISREx has been circling an asteroid called Bennu for the past two years
The asteroid is about 500 meters across, or the size of a skyscraper, and littered with boulders that range from dime-sized to stadium-sized #Bennu #ToBennuAndBack
You can also tune in live to NASA's feed to stay up on all the latest details as they come in https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#public #ToBennuAndBack #Bennu
There are more than a million asteroids, but Bennu was chosen by the @OSIRISREx team in part because it's close to Earth, even crossing our planet's orbit. In fact, there's a 1 in 2,700 chance it could hit us in the 22nd century.
NASA is saying that everything is looking good right now for the sample collect attempt #ToBennuAndBack
That attempt is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. EST / 3:15 p.m. PST. #ToBennuAndBack
The attempt is officially known as Touch-and-Go (TAG), and will be done with the @OSIRISREx spacecraft's Touch and Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM). But it's also been called a high five, fist bump or boop. #ToBennuAndBack
Want to get to know Bennu better? Why not take a quick tour of the top-shaped world and its many awesome rocks: #ToBennuAndBack
Before arriving at Bennu, scientists thought it might look more like a pebble-covered beach. They were surprised at how rocky the little world was. As a result, it took a long time to find a spot where the spacecraft could come down safely to scoop up a piece. #ToBennuAndBack
Bennu appears to have broken off a larger asteroid about a billion years ago, which may have been the same parent body of the asteroid Ryugu currently being visited by the Japanese spacecraft @haya2e_jaxa.
You can find out more about both in my piece: https://knowablemagazine.org/article/physical-world/2020/seeking-surprises-comets-and-asteroids
You can find out more about both in my piece: https://knowablemagazine.org/article/physical-world/2020/seeking-surprises-comets-and-asteroids
Some asteroids, including Bennu, are active, meaning they sometimes expel plumes of particles and dust (a hazard for @OSIRISREx). This makes them resemble their colder cousins, comets. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6470/eaay3544 #ToBennuAndBack
The first time I saw this GIF, it reminded me that we were in a golden age of asteroid and comet exploration and that I really wanted to write an article about that. #ToBennuAndBack
These little worlds are important clues to the origin of the solar system, planets and life itself.
And yes, I did talk to my sources a lot about "The Little Prince." #ToBennuAndBack
And yes, I did talk to my sources a lot about "The Little Prince." #ToBennuAndBack
So why exactly is this maneuver so difficult?
Well, the spacecraft has to hit an area a few parking spots big and avoid all obstacles, all without active control from NASA. #ToBennuAndBack
Well, the spacecraft has to hit an area a few parking spots big and avoid all obstacles, all without active control from NASA. #ToBennuAndBack
It takes our communication signals 18 minutes just to travel to Bennu right now, so mission control won't know if the spacecraft sample collection was successful until well after it happens.
Bennu is currently on the other side of the sun from Earth. #ToBennuAndBack
Bennu is currently on the other side of the sun from Earth. #ToBennuAndBack
Everything is still on track for the TAG, happening in about half an hour. #ToBennuAndBack https://twitter.com/OSIRISREx/status/1318665619668160513
The orbital graphic was taken from the @OSIRISREx website, which is a treasure trove of information on the mission and on Bennu. #ToBennuAndBack https://www.asteroidmission.org/where-is-the-spacecraft/
OSIRIS-REx is now moving its solar panels into a Y-shaped configuration so that it can slink down towards the surface without risking damaging them. #ToBennuAndBack
The TAGSAM will attempt to pick up around 60 grams (or as @NASA helpfully says, about 30 sugar packets) worth of material to bring back to Earth in 2023. #ToBennuAndBack https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/517/why-bennu-10-reasons/
This is the largest amount of material @NASA has returned from an extraterrestrial object since the Apollo missions in the 1960s and '70s.
More on what Apollo taught us: https://knowablemagazine.org/article/physical-world/2019/how-moon-landings-changed-our-view-solar-system
More on what Apollo taught us: https://knowablemagazine.org/article/physical-world/2019/how-moon-landings-changed-our-view-solar-system
In 2004, NASA's Stardust mission collected microscopic grains from the atmosphere of a comet and brought them back to Earth, but the capsule broke upon touchdown and there were concerns of contamination from terrestrial materials that could make analysis difficult #ToBennuAndBack
But scientists go through the hassle of sample collection because they can do much better analysis of material in a lab here on Earth than they can do with a distant spacecraft. #ToBennuAndBack
Where do you want to set up your rose garden on #Bennu? (Image: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona) #ToBennuAndBack
Checkpoint burn in 2 minutes. #ToBennuAndBack https://twitter.com/OSIRISREx/status/1318670632310181888
Here's where @OSIRISREx is in relation to #Bennu. From: https://www.asteroidmission.org/livestream/ #ToBennuAndBack
The @OSIRISREx craft is heading down towards the asteroid surface now.
Good to note that if this attempt is unsuccessful, the mission team will try again in a few months and possibly one more attempt after that. #ToBennuAndBack
Good to note that if this attempt is unsuccessful, the mission team will try again in a few months and possibly one more attempt after that. #ToBennuAndBack
The @OSIRISREx craft uses advanced onboard algorithms including "natural feature tracking,” which is supposed to understand hazardous boulders much like the human mind. #ToBennuAndBack
These algorithms incorporate info from various sensors, including imaging cameras and LIDAR as well as computer modeling, to match rocks and boulders that it sees during descent with what it expects to see from its memory. #ToBennuAndBack https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7943684
The @OSIRISREx craft was originally designed to hit a target 50 meters wide on #Bennu , but the team was able to update its algorithms to get that down to a mere 8 meters across. #ToBennuAndBack
Otherwise, it just wouldn't be able to navigate through the mountainous and boulder-strewn terrain on Bennu.
#ToBennuAndBack
#ToBennuAndBack
Features on #Bennu are all named for birds, as Bennu is named for a phoenix-like Egyptian bird deity considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians.
The sample site has been nicknamed Nightingale. #ToBennuAndBack
The sample site has been nicknamed Nightingale. #ToBennuAndBack
Getting really close! #ToBennuAndBack https://twitter.com/OSIRISREx/status/1318675330425643013
Just remember: the first images after TAG won't get here until tonight.
The spacecraft's data transmission rate is very slow at just 40 bits/second. #ToBennuAndBack
The spacecraft's data transmission rate is very slow at just 40 bits/second. #ToBennuAndBack
Tangible relief from the @OSIRISREx team felt over the livestream feed. https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#public
#ToBennuAndBack
#ToBennuAndBack
We can say: @OSIRISREx will now try to image its TAGSAM to see if it actually managed to scoop up material.
It will also spin its body to check if there is a measurable change in weight and know exactly how much it collected.
#ToBennuAndBack
It will also spin its body to check if there is a measurable change in weight and know exactly how much it collected.
#ToBennuAndBack
Please no one lick the sample. #ToBennuAndBack https://twitter.com/shannonmstirone/status/1318674808532422656
The sample material taken by @OSIRISREx should be mostly loose soil and dime-sized pebbles, including material that might have formed before the solar system itself.
#ToBennuAndBack
#ToBennuAndBack
Data will likely help scientists understand our origins better, perhaps even providing evidence that a supernova explosion kickstarted the collapse of the dust cloud from which our sun formed.
#ToBennuAndBack
#ToBennuAndBack
If today's TAG (Touch And Go) maneuver at #bennu actually got what it was after, we can expect to see samples back on Earth in 2023.
But also remember that @haya2e_jaxa samples from #Ryugu are expected back at the end of this year.
#ToBennuAndBack
But also remember that @haya2e_jaxa samples from #Ryugu are expected back at the end of this year.
#ToBennuAndBack
Researchers from both countries have been collaborating and will be sharing their samples back and forth for even better science!
#ToBennuAndBack
#ToBennuAndBack
Whew, that was exciting everyone!
I'm going to hand back the reins on this account but here's to having even more amazing robots in space doing killer stuff!
This is @adamspacemann, signing off!
I'm going to hand back the reins on this account but here's to having even more amazing robots in space doing killer stuff!
This is @adamspacemann, signing off!
(Once more with style: Please read @adamspacemann's wonderful feature on what small bodies tell us about the origins of our solar system! - The @KnowableMag social media team) https://knowablemagazine.org/article/physical-world/2020/seeking-surprises-comets-and-asteroids
