NASA’s Asteroid Heist: The Challenges of TAG

The video discusses the Osiris Rex mission to asteroid Bennu, highlighting unexpected surface observations, challenges in selecting a sample site, and the eventual choice of Nightingale. It details the TAG event for sample collection, contingency plans for potential issues, and the process of verifying the collected sample. The mission is described as exciting and groundbreaking, with the goal of returning samples to Earth for scientific study.

What unexpected feature did the Osiris Rex team find on Bennu's surface?

• Mountains and boulders

• A smooth sandy surface

• A large crater

• A frozen lake

What was the primary reason for selecting the Nightingale site?

• It was the largest site available

• It had the most fine-grained material

• It was the easiest to navigate to

• It was the closest site to Earth

How does the natural feature tracking system assist the spacecraft?

• By communicating with Earth

• By identifying landmarks for navigation

• By predicting weather conditions

• By analyzing the sample composition

What is the purpose of the gas bottle during the TAG event?

• To power the spacecraft's engines

• To capture fine-grained material

• To communicate with mission control

• To propel the spacecraft back to Earth

What is the final step in verifying the collected sample?

• Performing a sample mass measurement

• Sending a signal to Earth

• Conducting a chemical analysis

• Releasing the sample back to Bennu