OSIRIS-REx Tech - Surveying an Asteroid with X-rays

The video discusses the REXIS instrument on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, designed to study the asteroid Bennu. REXIS is unique in its ability to detect atomic elements through X-ray fluorescence, providing a map of Bennu's surface composition. The instrument consists of a telescope and a solar X-ray monitor, with students from MIT and Harvard playing a significant role in its development. REXIS represents a new generation of X-ray imaging for planetary science.

What is the primary function of the REXIS instrument on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft?

• To monitor the asteroid's temperature

• To capture images of Bennu's surface

• To detect atomic elements on Bennu

• To map the geology of Bennu

How does REXIS determine the elements present on Bennu's surface?

• By studying the asteroid's magnetic field

• By measuring the asteroid's temperature

• By analyzing the X-ray glow emitted by the asteroid

• By capturing high-resolution images

What are the two main components of the REXIS instrument?

• The radar system and the optical lens

• The CCD camera and the infrared sensor

• The REXIS telescope and the Solar X-ray Monitor

• The thermal imager and the spectrometer

What is the purpose of the Solar X-ray Monitor (SXM) in the REXIS instrument?

• To monitor the X-ray spectrum from the Sun

• To analyze the mineral composition of Bennu

• To capture images of the Sun

• To measure the temperature of Bennu

Who were primarily involved in building the REXIS instrument?

• Scientists from ESA

• NASA engineers

• Students from MIT and Harvard

• Astronomers from JPL