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 aboard the Osiris Rex spacecraft?

How does the REXIS instrument detect elements on the surface of the asteroid Bennu?

Describe the components of the REXIS instrument and their functions.

What role do students from MIT and Harvard play in the development of the REXIS instrument?

In what ways is the REXIS instrument considered a next-generation tool for planetary science?