spacetoday.net: OSIRIS-REx conducts final rehearsal of asteroid sampling maneuver

OSIRIS-REx conducts final rehearsal of asteroid sampling maneuver

Posted: Sat, Aug 15, 2020, 4:33 PM ET (2033 GMT)
OSIRIS-REx spacecraft illustration (NASA)

NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully carried out a final rehearsal this week of its maneuver to collect samples from an asteroid. The spacecraft descended to an altitude of about 40 meters above the surface of Bennu during the "Matchpoint" rehearsal Tuesday before backing away as planned. Project officials said the rehearsal went as designed, and should allow them to proceed with an attempt in October to collect material from the surface using a mechanism on the end of the spacecraft's sampling arm.