NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission faced numerous challenges during its journey to collect samples from asteroid Bennu. One such challenge was selecting a suitable landing site on the asteroid’s surface, which is only a few parking spaces wide and surrounded by building-sized boulders. The mission’s Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM), a robotic arm with a giant Roomba-size head attached to one end, had to briefly contact the surface, release a quick burst of nitrogen gas, kick up dust and debris, and capture it for storage in a capsule. This delicate operation required precise navigation and maneuvering to avoid any potential hazards on the asteroid’s surface.
The Daring Asteroid Heist: Unraveling the Secrets of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Mission
![](https://byte.eco/jomsoagh/2024/04/TAGSAM-Head-With-Lid-Removed-1536x1152.jpg)