NASA’s OSIRIS-REx: Mission to Bennu

The Osiris Rex mission aims to collect a sample from asteroid Bennu and return it to Earth. The spacecraft launched in 2016, performed a gravity assist in 2017, and began its approach to Bennu in 2018. It conducted detailed mapping and reconnaissance to select a sample site. In 2020, Osiris Rex collected the sample using a touch-and-go mechanism. The sample will return to Earth in 2023, providing insights into the early solar system and the origins of life.

What was the purpose of Osiris Rex's gravity assist from Earth in 2017?

• To adjust its trajectory to match Bennu's orbital tilt

• To increase its speed to reach Bennu faster

• To test its instruments before reaching Bennu

• To capture images of Earth and the Moon

What significant milestone did Osiris Rex achieve when it entered orbit around Bennu?

• It completed its first mapping campaign

• It captured the first images of Bennu

• It became the first spacecraft to land on an asteroid

• It orbited the smallest world ever by a spacecraft

During the reconnaissance phase, what was the primary goal of Osiris Rex?

• To map Bennu's entire surface

• To select and inspect potential sample sites

• To collect a sample from Bennu

• To test its descent and landing capabilities

What technology did Osiris Rex use to collect a sample from Bennu?

• A vacuum suction device

• The TAGSAM mechanism

• A scoop and container system

• A robotic arm with a drill

What was the purpose of the TAGSAM mechanism during the sample collection?

• To measure Bennu's gravity field

• To drill into Bennu's surface

• To capture images of the sample site

• To blow nitrogen gas and collect loose material

What will the sample from Bennu help scientists understand?

• The history of space exploration

• The potential for human colonization of asteroids

• The formation of the planets and origins of life

• The current climate of Bennu

What happens to the sample return capsule upon re-entry to Earth's atmosphere?

• It lands in the ocean

• It burns up completely

• It initiates a parachute sequence for a safe landing

• It is captured by a spacecraft in orbit