Date: 20180319

To: National AeronauticAeronautics and Space Administration Financial Team

From: National AeronauticAeronautics and Space Administration Operations Team
Subject: Asteroid Sample Acquisition Method Destroyed on Earth Gravitational Assist
Action Required: Determine if the OSIRIS-REx mission will continue to receive funding
Distribution List: National AeronauticAeronautics and Space Administration Financial Team

During the recent gravity assist maneuver completed by Origins Spectral Interpretation Formatted: Indent: First line: 0"
Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer(OSIRIS-REx) it has become apparent that
the Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism(TAGSAM) has been irreparably damaged.
This mechanism is instrumental in the main goal of the mission, the acquisition of an asteroid
sample.

Summary
With the TAGSAM destroyed on OSIRIS-REx the main goal of the mission cannot be Formatted: Indent: First line: 0"
completed. However, it would still be beneficial to the interests of NASA to carry out the mission
to its fullest extent. The instruments that will be used while orbiting the asteroid will provide
valuable insight on the composition of asteroids, and the ability to track and land on them.
Further information can also be learned about the Yarkovsky effect and how it will alter the
course of Bennu. With the cost of the project already at nearly one billion dollars it is not feasible
to scrap the currentend the project in favor of launchingand launch a similar mission.

Main and Secondary Missions

The Mission
The primary goal of the mission involving OSIRIS-REx mission is to use the TAGSAM
system to collect material from the asteroid Bennu and return it to Earth. Bennu is thought to be
an ancient asteroid originating from the collisions in the formation of the solar system. NASA
plans to inspect the sample for traces of amino acids. If this is present it which will help
scientists understand if the building blocks for life can comecame from space.

Issues with TAGSAM

TAGSAM is the system on the OSIRIS-REx responsible for carrying out the primary
mission of capturing between 60 and 200 grams of surface dust samples from Bennu. The way
this was to be done was by extending the TAGSAM arm to briefly touch the surface of Bennu
and use a burst of nitrogen to disturb the sediment. The sediment would be pushed into the
sample chamber as well as onto contact pads along the side of the chamber. The failure ofin the
system has happened with the articulating arm that would move the TAGSAM to the surface of
Bennu. In the gravity assist one of the hinges that moves that arm has broken making it unable
to move from the side of the OSIRIS-REx module.
What a Replacement Would Entail
Cost of Re-Launch Formatted: Font: Palatino Linotype, 12 pt, Bold
The OSIRIS-REx mission marks is the third third of four mission in the currently planned four
missions inof the New Frontiers Program. This program is aimed at studying celestial objects
deeper in space than previously attempted. While these missions are important and have
generated a lot of public interesting, the funding in the program is not limitless. OSIRIS-REx
has, so far, been the costliest mission within the New Frontiers Program. Both Juno and New
Horizons missions cost approximately seven-hundred million dollars. OSIRIS-REx tops both
with a cost of slightly under one billion dollars. If the entire mission were to be scrapped not only
would it be a nearly one billion dollarone-billion-dollar loss to NASA it would also mean that
same amount of money would have to be invested if it were decided to attempt the project
again. This is assuming that little only minor modifications need to be made to the OSIRIS-REx
module itself. Although the main goal of the mission cannot be completed it would be too costly
to scrap end the project and attempt it again.

Bennu Rendezvous Window Formatted: Font: Palatino Linotype, 12 pt, Bold

The asteroid Bennu, the target of this mission, is on an irregularly shaped orbit that Formatted: Indent: First line: 0"
revolves around the sun every 14 months. Its current path puts Bennu close to Earth every six
years. This irregular orbit and small short time frame means that OSIRIS-REx was launched at
the most opportune time to Rendezvous with Bennu. If another mission was to be launched with
modifications to the TAGSAM it would either require a much more powerful rocket to reach
further, or need to be postponed until approximately 2022. The first option of sending it with a
larger rocket raises the cost significantly as and a private corporation would need to be reached
out to in order to acquire the more powerful rocket. The option of waiting for a more opportune
time window would set back NASA and its New Frontiers Program substantially.

Secondary Missions
OCAMS System Formatted: Font: 12 pt, Bold
The OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite(OCAMS) system on the OSIRI-REx will be able to image Formatted: Font: Palatino Linotype, 12 pt, Bold
Bennu from multiple angles and with multiple sensors. This system consists of three modules
Formatted: Indent: First line: 0"
the PolyCam, MapCam, and SamCam. The SamCam is dependent on the operation of the
TAGSAM and thus will become inoperable, but the PolyCam and MapCam systems can still
operate normally. Both systems can provide valuable insight into asteroid composition and
acquisition. The OCAMS system will also assist in the sample return process.

PolyCam System Formatted: Font: Palatino Linotype, 12 pt, Bold

The PolyCam system is the main instrumentmodule used in in control of acquisition of
the asteroid. It will start tracking the asteroid at a distance of two million kilometers. This is
NASA’s first attempt at a mission this far into space with a target this small. Allowing the mission
to continue and PolyCam to continue operateion will give valuable information to NASA about
the acquisition of asteroids and how to improve the system for future models. This technology
can lead to more precise probes in the future and potentially a warning system for large space
craft to avoid collisions with space debris.

MapCam System Formatted: Font: Palatino Linotype, 12 pt, Bold

The MapCam system will attempt to come as close to completing the primary mission as
possible. This system will scan the Bennu asteroid for natural satellites as well as plumes
outgassing from the asteroid. The system will also make a high-resolution scan of the target
sample site in four different colors. These high-resolution scans can be used in place of the
sample that would be taken by TAGSAM. While a sample return would be optimal, in its place
the images and scans can be used to attempt to determine the composition of the asteroid.

SRC System Formatted: Font: Palatino Linotype, 12 pt, Bold

The Sample Return Capsule (SRC) is another system being tested on the OSIRIS-REx.
This is a relatively simple system developed by Lockheed Martin to transport the samples from
TAGSAM back to Earth. With the failure of the articulating arm the capsule will be empty it is still
an important test to carry out. The goal of this is to make the capsule land in the Utah desert
with little to no damage. This will be done with thedone by deploying of a Drogue parachute
while still 1.9 miles above Earth. If this test is allowed to be carried out not only will the SRC be
tested but the OCAMS systems ability to accurately place the payload in a small area will also
be tested. With the knowledge from these two systems working in tandem NASA will be able to
determine the future feasibility of returning material from space using unmanned methodsas
well as how to improve.

The Yarkovsky Effect

The asteroid Bennu being studied has a very small potential of impacting Earth between 2175 Formatted: Indent: First line: 0"
and 2199. This is due to Bennu’s unusual orbit that is affected by the Yarkovsky effect. The
Yarkovsky effect means that as the sun heats up the surface of the asteroid and thermal
photons are released. These photons move the asteroid slightly altering its course. Not much is
known about the effect. Using OSIRIS-REx’s onboard thermal emission spectrometer, protons
and radiation leaving the surface will be measured to better understand the amount the
Yarkovsky effect changes the orbit of Bennu. This will better help NASA determine the likelihood
of near Earth objects, also affected by this, of hitting Earth.

Conclusion
The OSIRIS-REx deep space probe contains many systems that can still function after
the damage in the gravity assist. Although the TAGSAM module used for the main mission is
inoperable the other systems involved in space flight, navigation, and scanning are all operating
normallyonal. These systems have not been tested in deep space nor in the context of the
OSIRS-REx mission. It is not financially feasible to attempt the same experiment again; the cost
would be nearly one billion from the New Frontiers budget. This moneyMoney in the program is
slated for future projects and would require NASA to wait until approximately 2022 to have the
opportune launch window to rendezvous with Bennu again. The possibility of studying the
Yarkovsky effect and possible asteroid redirect would also further NASA’s understanding of the
potential risks of near Earth asteroids impacting Earth. With the instruments on board the
mission can reach all its secondary goals and help NASA better understand how to operate
probes in deep space.
Recommendation
The OSIRIS-REx mission should go on as planned with the only difference being that
the TAGSAM arm will not deployed. This means that OSIRIS-REx should continue its cruise to
Bennu and spend over a year surveying the asteroid. This will give plenty of time for each
scanning and imaging system on OSIRSI-REx to be tested to its fullest extent. The TAGSAM
arm can no longer be extended but the close pass of Bennu should be attempted to ensure that
the propulsion and navigation systems work correctly. The mission should come to an end after
the SRC capsule has been released and successfully retrieved in the Utah desert.
References
“OSIRIS-REx.” Edited by Rob Garner and Brian Dunbar, OSIRIS-REx, National
Aeronautic and Space Administration, 11 Dec. 2017, www.nasa.gov/osiris-rex.

“The OSIRS-REx Mission.” OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission, Arizona

Board of Regents, brinktest.lpl.arizone.edu/about-mission/.

“Questions & Answers.” OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission, Arizona Board of
Regents, www.asteroidmission.org/qa/.

“Sentry: Earth Impact Monitoring.” Center for Near Earth Object Studies, NASA Jet
Propulsion Laboratory, cneos.jpl.nasa.gov/sentry/details.html#?des=101955.