Science Alert October 5, 2023
The robotic arm, Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM) reached out and grabbed a bunch of dirt from asteroid Bennu, which was finally delivered to Earth in late September after an epic 7-year mission. That initial analysis includes scanning electron microscopy, infrared measurements, and X-ray diffraction. NASA will be hosting a press conference at 11:00 ET on October 11 to reveal the results, as well as the first images of the sample. An estimated 250 grams of Bennu dust is inside the TAGSAM head. Over the coming weeks, the container will be moved to a new, specialized glove box so that the disassembly can be completed safely… read more.
A sequence of images showing TAGSAM collecting dirt on Asteroid Bennu. Credit: (NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona, Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons)