1
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Lauretta DS, Adam CD, Allen AJ, Ballouz RL, Barnouin OS, Becker KJ, Becker T, Bennett CA, Bierhaus EB, Bos BJ, Burns RD, Campins H, Cho Y, Christensen PR, Church ECA, Clark BE, Connolly HC, Daly MG, DellaGiustina DN, Drouet d’Aubigny CY, Emery JP, Enos HL, Freund Kasper S, Garvin JB, Getzandanner K, Golish DR, Hamilton VE, Hergenrother CW, Kaplan HH, Keller LP, Lessac-Chenen EJ, Liounis AJ, Ma H, McCarthy LK, Miller BD, Moreau MC, Morota T, Nelson DS, Nolau JO, Olds R, Pajola M, Pelgrift JY, Polit AT, Ravine MA, Reuter DC, Rizk B, Rozitis B, Ryan AJ, Sahr EM, Sakatani N, Seabrook JA, Selznick SH, Skeen MA, Simon AA, Sugita S, Walsh KJ, Westermann MM, Wolner CWV, Yumoto K. Spacecraft sample collection and subsurface excavation of asteroid (101955) Bennu. Science 2022; 377:285-291. [DOI: 10.1126/science.abm1018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Carbonaceous asteroids, such as (101955) Bennu, preserve material from the early Solar System, including volatile compounds and organic molecules. We report spacecraft imaging and spectral data collected during and after retrieval of a sample from Bennu’s surface. The sampling event mobilized rocks and dust into a debris plume, excavating a 9-m-long elliptical crater. This exposed material that is darker, spectrally redder, and more abundant in fine particulates than the original surface. The bulk density of the displaced subsurface material was 500–700 kg per cubic meter, about half that of the whole asteroid. Particulates that landed on instrument optics spectrally resemble aqueously altered carbonaceous meteorites. The spacecraft stored 250 ± 101 g of material, which will be delivered to Earth in 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. S. Lauretta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - A. J. Allen
- Physics Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - R.-L. Ballouz
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - O. S. Barnouin
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - K. J. Becker
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - T. Becker
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C. A. Bennett
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - B. J. Bos
- Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - R. D. Burns
- Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - H. Campins
- Physics Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Y. Cho
- Department of Earth and Planetary Environmental Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - P. R. Christensen
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | - B. E. Clark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - H. C. Connolly
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Department of Geology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - M. G. Daly
- Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - J. P. Emery
- Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - H. L. Enos
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | | | | | - D. R. Golish
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - H. Ma
- Lockheed Martin Space, Littleton, CO, USA
| | | | | | | | - T. Morota
- Department of Earth and Planetary Environmental Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - J. O. Nolau
- Physics Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - R. Olds
- Lockheed Martin Space, Littleton, CO, USA
| | - M. Pajola
- INAF (Italian National Institute for Astrophysics) – Astronomical Observatory of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - A. T. Polit
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | | | - B. Rizk
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - B. Rozitis
- School of Physical Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - A. J. Ryan
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - N. Sakatani
- Department of Physics, Rikkyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - J. A. Seabrook
- Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - S. H. Selznick
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - A. A. Simon
- Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - S. Sugita
- Department of Earth and Planetary Environmental Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - K. J. Walsh
- Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - M. M. Westermann
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C. W. V. Wolner
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - K. Yumoto
- Department of Earth and Planetary Environmental Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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2
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Golish DR, Simon AA, Reuter DC, Ferrone S, Clark BE, Li JY, DellaGiustina DN, Drouet d’Aubigny C, Rizk B, Lauretta DS. Cross-Instrument Comparison of MapCam and OVIRS on OSIRIS-REx. Space Sci Rev 2022; 218:5. [PMID: 35250103 PMCID: PMC8885487 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-022-00873-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Two of the instruments onboard the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, the MapCam color imager and the OVIRS visible and infrared spectrometer, observed the surface of asteroid (101955) Bennu in partially overlapping wavelengths. Significant scientific advances have been enabled by using data from these two instruments in tandem, but a robust statistical understanding of their relationship is needed for future analyses to cross-compare their data as accurately and sensitively as possible. Here we present a cross-instrument comparison of data acquired by MapCam and OVIRS, including methods and results for all global and site-specific observation campaigns in which both instruments were active. In our analysis, we consider both the absolute radiometric offset and the relative (normalized) variation between the two instruments; we find that both depend strongly on the photometric and instrumental conditions during the observation. The two instruments have a large absolute offset (>15%) due to their independent radiometric calibrations. However, they are very consistent (relative offset as low as 1%) when each instrument's response is normalized at a single wavelength, particularly at low phase angles where shadows on Bennu's rough surface are minimized. We recommend using the global datasets acquired at 12:30 pm local solar time for cross-comparisons; data acquired at higher phase angles have larger uncertainties.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. R. Golish
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - A. A. Simon
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA
| | - D. C. Reuter
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA
| | - S. Ferrone
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY USA
| | - B. E. Clark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY USA
| | - J.-Y. Li
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ USA
| | | | | | - B. Rizk
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - D. S. Lauretta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
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3
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Kaplan HH, Lauretta DS, Simon AA, Hamilton VE, DellaGiustina DN, Golish DR, Reuter DC, Bennett CA, Burke KN, Campins H, Connolly HC, Dworkin JP, Emery JP, Glavin DP, Glotch TD, Hanna R, Ishimaru K, Jawin ER, McCoy TJ, Porter N, Sandford SA, Ferrone S, Clark BE, Li JY, Zou XD, Daly MG, Barnouin OS, Seabrook JA, Enos HL. Bright carbonate veins on asteroid (101955) Bennu: Implications for aqueous alteration history. Science 2020; 370:science.abc3557. [PMID: 33033155 DOI: 10.1126/science.abc3557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The composition of asteroids and their connection to meteorites provide insight into geologic processes that occurred in the early Solar System. We present spectra of the Nightingale crater region on near-Earth asteroid Bennu with a distinct infrared absorption around 3.4 micrometers. Corresponding images of boulders show centimeters-thick, roughly meter-long bright veins. We interpret the veins as being composed of carbonates, similar to those found in aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. If the veins on Bennu are carbonates, fluid flow and hydrothermal deposition on Bennu's parent body would have occurred on kilometer scales for thousands to millions of years. This suggests large-scale, open-system hydrothermal alteration of carbonaceous asteroids in the early Solar System.
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Affiliation(s)
- H H Kaplan
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA. .,Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - D S Lauretta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - A A Simon
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | | | - D N DellaGiustina
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D R Golish
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D C Reuter
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - C A Bennett
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - K N Burke
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - H Campins
- Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - H C Connolly
- Department of Geology, School of Earth and Environment, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA.,Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - J P Dworkin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - J P Emery
- Department of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - D P Glavin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - T D Glotch
- Department of Geosciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - R Hanna
- Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - K Ishimaru
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - E R Jawin
- Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | - T J McCoy
- Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | - N Porter
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - S A Sandford
- NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA, USA
| | - S Ferrone
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - B E Clark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - J-Y Li
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - X-D Zou
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M G Daly
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - O S Barnouin
- John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - J A Seabrook
- Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - H L Enos
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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4
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DellaGiustina DN, Burke KN, Walsh KJ, Smith PH, Golish DR, Bierhaus EB, Ballouz RL, Becker TL, Campins H, Tatsumi E, Yumoto K, Sugita S, Deshapriya JDP, Cloutis EA, Clark BE, Hendrix AR, Sen A, Al Asad MM, Daly MG, Applin DM, Avdellidou C, Barucci MA, Becker KJ, Bennett CA, Bottke WF, Brodbeck JI, Connolly HC, Delbo M, de Leon J, Drouet d'Aubigny CY, Edmundson KL, Fornasier S, Hamilton VE, Hasselmann PH, Hergenrother CW, Howell ES, Jawin ER, Kaplan HH, Le Corre L, Lim LF, Li JY, Michel P, Molaro JL, Nolan MC, Nolau J, Pajola M, Parkinson A, Popescu M, Porter NA, Rizk B, Rizos JL, Ryan AJ, Rozitis B, Shultz NK, Simon AA, Trang D, Van Auken RB, Wolner CWV, Lauretta DS. Variations in color and reflectance on the surface of asteroid (101955) Bennu. Science 2020; 370:science.abc3660. [PMID: 33033157 DOI: 10.1126/science.abc3660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Visible-wavelength color and reflectance provide information about the geologic history of planetary surfaces. Here we present multispectral images (0.44 to 0.89 micrometers) of near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu. The surface has variable colors overlain on a moderately blue global terrain. Two primary boulder types are distinguishable by their reflectance and texture. Space weathering of Bennu surface materials does not simply progress from red to blue (or vice versa). Instead, freshly exposed, redder surfaces initially brighten in the near-ultraviolet region (i.e., become bluer at shorter wavelengths), then brighten in the visible to near-infrared region, leading to Bennu's moderately blue average color. Craters indicate that the time scale of these color changes is ~105 years. We attribute the reflectance and color variation to a combination of primordial heterogeneity and varying exposure ages.
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Affiliation(s)
- D N DellaGiustina
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA. .,Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - K N Burke
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - K J Walsh
- Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - P H Smith
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D R Golish
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - R-L Ballouz
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - T L Becker
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - H Campins
- Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - E Tatsumi
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias and Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.,Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - K Yumoto
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - S Sugita
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - J D Prasanna Deshapriya
- LESIA (Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique), Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres), CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - E A Cloutis
- Department of Geography, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9, Canada
| | - B E Clark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - A R Hendrix
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - A Sen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - M M Al Asad
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - M G Daly
- The Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - D M Applin
- Department of Geography, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9, Canada
| | - C Avdellidou
- Université Côte d'Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange, Nice, France
| | - M A Barucci
- LESIA (Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique), Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres), CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - K J Becker
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C A Bennett
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - W F Bottke
- Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - J I Brodbeck
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - H C Connolly
- Department of Geology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | - M Delbo
- Université Côte d'Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange, Nice, France
| | - J de Leon
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias and Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | | | - K L Edmundson
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - S Fornasier
- LESIA (Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique), Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres), CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, 92195 Meudon, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 1 rue Descartes, 75231 Paris CEDEX 05, France
| | | | - P H Hasselmann
- LESIA (Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique), Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL (Paris Sciences & Lettres), CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, 92195 Meudon, France
| | - C W Hergenrother
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - E S Howell
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - E R Jawin
- Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | - H H Kaplan
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - L Le Corre
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - L F Lim
- Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | - J Y Li
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - P Michel
- Université Côte d'Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange, Nice, France
| | - J L Molaro
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M C Nolan
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - J Nolau
- Lockheed Martin Space, Littleton, CO, USA
| | - M Pajola
- Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - A Parkinson
- Department of Geography, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9, Canada
| | - M Popescu
- Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania.,Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias and Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - N A Porter
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - B Rizk
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - J L Rizos
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias and Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - A J Ryan
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - B Rozitis
- The School of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - N K Shultz
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - A A Simon
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - D Trang
- University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - R B Van Auken
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C W V Wolner
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D S Lauretta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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5
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Rozitis B, Ryan AJ, Emery JP, Christensen PR, Hamilton VE, Simon AA, Reuter DC, Al Asad M, Ballouz RL, Bandfield JL, Barnouin OS, Bennett CA, Bernacki M, Burke KN, Cambioni S, Clark BE, Daly MG, Delbo M, DellaGiustina DN, Elder CM, Hanna RD, Haberle CW, Howell ES, Golish DR, Jawin ER, Kaplan HH, Lim LF, Molaro JL, Munoz DP, Nolan MC, Rizk B, Siegler MA, Susorney HCM, Walsh KJ, Lauretta DS. Asteroid (101955) Bennu's weak boulders and thermally anomalous equator. Sci Adv 2020; 6:eabc3699. [PMID: 33033037 PMCID: PMC7544501 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc3699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Thermal inertia and surface roughness are proxies for the physical characteristics of planetary surfaces. Global maps of these two properties distinguish the boulder population on near-Earth asteroid (NEA) (101955) Bennu into two types that differ in strength, and both have lower thermal inertia than expected for boulders and meteorites. Neither has strongly temperature-dependent thermal properties. The weaker boulder type probably would not survive atmospheric entry and thus may not be represented in the meteorite collection. The maps also show a high-thermal inertia band at Bennu's equator, which might be explained by processes such as compaction or strength sorting during mass movement, but these explanations are not wholly consistent with other data. Our findings imply that other C-complex NEAs likely have boulders similar to those on Bennu rather than finer-particulate regoliths. A tentative correlation between albedo and thermal inertia of C-complex NEAs may be due to relative abundances of boulder types.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Rozitis
- School of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
| | - A J Ryan
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - J P Emery
- Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - P R Christensen
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | | - A A Simon
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - D C Reuter
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - M Al Asad
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Ocean Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - R-L Ballouz
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - O S Barnouin
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - C A Bennett
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M Bernacki
- Mines ParisTech, PSL Research University, CEMEF-Centre de mise en forme des matériaux, Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France
| | - K N Burke
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - S Cambioni
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - B E Clark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - M G Daly
- The Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M Delbo
- Université Côte d'Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Laboratoire Lagrange, Nice, France
| | - D N DellaGiustina
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C M Elder
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - R D Hanna
- Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
| | - C W Haberle
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - E S Howell
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D R Golish
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - E R Jawin
- Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | - H H Kaplan
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - L F Lim
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Solar System Exploration Division, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - J L Molaro
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D Pino Munoz
- Mines ParisTech, PSL Research University, CEMEF-Centre de mise en forme des matériaux, Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France
| | - M C Nolan
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - B Rizk
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M A Siegler
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - H C M Susorney
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - K J Walsh
- Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - D S Lauretta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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6
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Molaro JL, Walsh KJ, Jawin ER, Ballouz RL, Bennett CA, DellaGiustina DN, Golish DR, Drouet d'Aubigny C, Rizk B, Schwartz SR, Hanna RD, Martel SJ, Pajola M, Campins H, Ryan AJ, Bottke WF, Lauretta DS. In situ evidence of thermally induced rock breakdown widespread on Bennu's surface. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2913. [PMID: 32518333 PMCID: PMC7283247 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16528-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rock breakdown due to diurnal thermal cycling has been hypothesized to drive boulder degradation and regolith production on airless bodies. Numerous studies have invoked its importance in driving landscape evolution, yet morphological features produced by thermal fracture processes have never been definitively observed on an airless body, or any surface where other weathering mechanisms may be ruled out. The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission provides an opportunity to search for evidence of thermal breakdown and assess its significance on asteroid surfaces. Here we show boulder morphologies observed on Bennu that are consistent with terrestrial observations and models of fatigue-driven exfoliation and demonstrate how crack propagation via thermal stress can lead to their development. The rate and expression of this process will vary with asteroid composition and location, influencing how different bodies evolve and their apparent relative surface ages from space weathering and cratering records. In their study, the authors discuss the potential of thermal weathering on airless bodies. As a case study, they use boulder and fracture morphologies on asteroid Bennu.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Molaro
- Planetary Science Institute, 1700 E Ft Lowell Rd., STE 106, Tucson, AZ, 85719, USA.
| | - K J Walsh
- Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut St #300, Boulder, CO, 80302, USA
| | - E R Jawin
- Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, MRC 119, Washington, D.C, 20013, USA
| | - R-L Ballouz
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - C A Bennett
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - D N DellaGiustina
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - D R Golish
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - C Drouet d'Aubigny
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - B Rizk
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - S R Schwartz
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - R D Hanna
- Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, 2305 Speedway Stop C1160, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - S J Martel
- Department of Earth Sciences, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, POST Building STE 701, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
| | - M Pajola
- INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Padova, Vic. Osservatorio 5, 35122, Padova, Italy
| | - H Campins
- Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, 4111 Libra Drive, Physical Sciences Bldg. 430, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA
| | - A J Ryan
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - W F Bottke
- Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut St #300, Boulder, CO, 80302, USA
| | - D S Lauretta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, 1629 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
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7
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Lauretta DS, Hergenrother CW, Chesley SR, Leonard JM, Pelgrift JY, Adam CD, Al Asad M, Antreasian PG, Ballouz RL, Becker KJ, Bennett CA, Bos BJ, Bottke WF, Brozović M, Campins H, Connolly HC, Daly MG, Davis AB, de León J, DellaGiustina DN, Drouet d'Aubigny CY, Dworkin JP, Emery JP, Farnocchia D, Glavin DP, Golish DR, Hartzell CM, Jacobson RA, Jawin ER, Jenniskens P, Kidd JN, Lessac-Chenen EJ, Li JY, Libourel G, Licandro J, Liounis AJ, Maleszewski CK, Manzoni C, May B, McCarthy LK, McMahon JW, Michel P, Molaro JL, Moreau MC, Nelson DS, Owen WM, Rizk B, Roper HL, Rozitis B, Sahr EM, Scheeres DJ, Seabrook JA, Selznick SH, Takahashi Y, Thuillet F, Tricarico P, Vokrouhlický D, Wolner CWV. Episodes of particle ejection from the surface of the active asteroid (101955) Bennu. Science 2020; 366:366/6470/eaay3544. [PMID: 31806784 DOI: 10.1126/science.aay3544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Active asteroids are those that show evidence of ongoing mass loss. We report repeated instances of particle ejection from the surface of (101955) Bennu, demonstrating that it is an active asteroid. The ejection events were imaged by the OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer) spacecraft. For the three largest observed events, we estimated the ejected particle velocities and sizes, event times, source regions, and energies. We also determined the trajectories and photometric properties of several gravitationally bound particles that orbited temporarily in the Bennu environment. We consider multiple hypotheses for the mechanisms that lead to particle ejection for the largest events, including rotational disruption, electrostatic lofting, ice sublimation, phyllosilicate dehydration, meteoroid impacts, thermal stress fracturing, and secondary impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Lauretta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - C W Hergenrother
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - S R Chesley
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | | | | | - C D Adam
- KinetX Aerospace, Simi Valley, CA, USA
| | - M Al Asad
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - R-L Ballouz
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - K J Becker
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C A Bennett
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - B J Bos
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - W F Bottke
- Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - M Brozović
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - H Campins
- Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - H C Connolly
- Department of Geology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA.,Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M G Daly
- The Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - A B Davis
- Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - J de León
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias and Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - D N DellaGiustina
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - J P Dworkin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - J P Emery
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.,Department of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - D Farnocchia
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - D P Glavin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - D R Golish
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C M Hartzell
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - R A Jacobson
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - E R Jawin
- Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | - P Jenniskens
- SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute, Mountain View, CA, USA
| | - J N Kidd
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - J-Y Li
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - G Libourel
- Université Côte d'Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique), Laboratoire Lagrange, Nice, France
| | - J Licandro
- Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias and Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - A J Liounis
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - C K Maleszewski
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C Manzoni
- London Stereoscopic Company, London, UK
| | - B May
- London Stereoscopic Company, London, UK
| | | | - J W McMahon
- Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - P Michel
- Université Côte d'Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique), Laboratoire Lagrange, Nice, France
| | - J L Molaro
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M C Moreau
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | | | - W M Owen
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - B Rizk
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - H L Roper
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - B Rozitis
- School of Physical Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - E M Sahr
- KinetX Aerospace, Simi Valley, CA, USA
| | - D J Scheeres
- Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - J A Seabrook
- The Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - S H Selznick
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Y Takahashi
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - F Thuillet
- Université Côte d'Azur, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique), Laboratoire Lagrange, Nice, France
| | - P Tricarico
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D Vokrouhlický
- Institute of Astronomy, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - C W V Wolner
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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8
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Golish DR, Drouet d'Aubigny C, Rizk B, DellaGiustina DN, Smith PH, Becker K, Shultz N, Stone T, Barker MK, Mazarico E, Tatsumi E, Gaskell RW, Harrison L, Merrill C, Fellows C, Williams B, O'Dougherty S, Whiteley M, Hancock J, Clark BE, Hergenrother CW, Lauretta DS. Ground and In-Flight Calibration of the OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite. Space Sci Rev 2020; 216:12. [PMID: 32025061 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-017-0460-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite (OCAMS) onboard the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is used to study the shape and surface of the mission's target, asteroid (101955) Bennu, in support of the selection of a sampling site. We present calibration methods and results for the three OCAMS cameras-MapCam, PolyCam, and SamCam-using data from pre-flight and in-flight calibration campaigns. Pre-flight calibrations established a baseline for a variety of camera properties, including bias and dark behavior, flat fields, stray light, and radiometric calibration. In-flight activities updated these calibrations where possible, allowing us to confidently measure Bennu's surface. Accurate calibration is critical not only for establishing a global understanding of Bennu, but also for enabling analyses of potential sampling locations and for providing scientific context for the returned sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Golish
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | | | - B Rizk
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - D N DellaGiustina
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - P H Smith
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - K Becker
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - N Shultz
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - T Stone
- United States Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ USA
| | - M K Barker
- 3Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA
| | - E Mazarico
- 3Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA
| | - E Tatsumi
- 4Department of Earth and Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - R W Gaskell
- 5Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - L Harrison
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - C Merrill
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - C Fellows
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - B Williams
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - S O'Dougherty
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - M Whiteley
- 6Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT USA
| | - J Hancock
- 6Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT USA
| | - B E Clark
- 7Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY USA
| | - C W Hergenrother
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - D S Lauretta
- 1Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
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9
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Golish DR, Drouet d’Aubigny C, Rizk B, DellaGiustina DN, Smith PH, Becker K, Shultz N, Stone T, Barker MK, Mazarico E, Tatsumi E, Gaskell RW, Harrison L, Merrill C, Fellows C, Williams B, O’Dougherty S, Whiteley M, Hancock J, Clark BE, Hergenrother CW, Lauretta DS. Ground and In-Flight Calibration of the OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite. Space Sci Rev 2020; 216:12. [PMID: 32025061 PMCID: PMC6979463 DOI: 10.1007/s11214-019-0626-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The OSIRIS-REx Camera Suite (OCAMS) onboard the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is used to study the shape and surface of the mission's target, asteroid (101955) Bennu, in support of the selection of a sampling site. We present calibration methods and results for the three OCAMS cameras-MapCam, PolyCam, and SamCam-using data from pre-flight and in-flight calibration campaigns. Pre-flight calibrations established a baseline for a variety of camera properties, including bias and dark behavior, flat fields, stray light, and radiometric calibration. In-flight activities updated these calibrations where possible, allowing us to confidently measure Bennu's surface. Accurate calibration is critical not only for establishing a global understanding of Bennu, but also for enabling analyses of potential sampling locations and for providing scientific context for the returned sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. R. Golish
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | | | - B. Rizk
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | | | - P. H. Smith
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - K. Becker
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - N. Shultz
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - T. Stone
- United States Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ USA
| | - M. K. Barker
- Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA
| | - E. Mazarico
- Solar System Exploration Division, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD USA
| | - E. Tatsumi
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - L. Harrison
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - C. Merrill
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - C. Fellows
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - B. Williams
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - S. O’Dougherty
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
| | - M. Whiteley
- Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT USA
| | - J. Hancock
- Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT USA
| | - B. E. Clark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY USA
| | | | - D. S. Lauretta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ USA
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10
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Lauretta DS, DellaGiustina DN, Bennett CA, Golish DR, Becker KJ, Balram-Knutson SS, Barnouin OS, Becker TL, Bottke WF, Boynton WV, Campins H, Clark BE, Connolly HC, Drouet d'Aubigny CY, Dworkin JP, Emery JP, Enos HL, Hamilton VE, Hergenrother CW, Howell ES, Izawa MRM, Kaplan HH, Nolan MC, Rizk B, Roper HL, Scheeres DJ, Smith PH, Walsh KJ, Wolner CWV. The unexpected surface of asteroid (101955) Bennu. Nature 2019; 568:55-60. [PMID: 30890786 PMCID: PMC6557581 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1033-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 268] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
NASA'S Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft recently arrived at the near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu, a primitive body that represents the objects that may have brought prebiotic molecules and volatiles such as water to Earth1. Bennu is a low-albedo B-type asteroid2 that has been linked to organic-rich hydrated carbonaceous chondrites3. Such meteorites are altered by ejection from their parent body and contaminated by atmospheric entry and terrestrial microbes. Therefore, the primary mission objective is to return a sample of Bennu to Earth that is pristine-that is, not affected by these processes4. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft carries a sophisticated suite of instruments to characterize Bennu's global properties, support the selection of a sampling site and document that site at a sub-centimetre scale5-11. Here we consider early OSIRIS-REx observations of Bennu to understand how the asteroid's properties compare to pre-encounter expectations and to assess the prospects for sample return. The bulk composition of Bennu appears to be hydrated and volatile-rich, as expected. However, in contrast to pre-encounter modelling of Bennu's thermal inertia12 and radar polarization ratios13-which indicated a generally smooth surface covered by centimetre-scale particles-resolved imaging reveals an unexpected surficial diversity. The albedo, texture, particle size and roughness are beyond the spacecraft design specifications. On the basis of our pre-encounter knowledge, we developed a sampling strategy to target 50-metre-diameter patches of loose regolith with grain sizes smaller than two centimetres4. We observe only a small number of apparently hazard-free regions, of the order of 5 to 20 metres in extent, the sampling of which poses a substantial challenge to mission success.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S Lauretta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - D N DellaGiustina
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C A Bennett
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D R Golish
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - K J Becker
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - O S Barnouin
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - T L Becker
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - W F Bottke
- Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - W V Boynton
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - H Campins
- Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - B E Clark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - H C Connolly
- Department of Geology, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, USA
| | | | - J P Dworkin
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
| | - J P Emery
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - H L Enos
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - C W Hergenrother
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - E S Howell
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M R M Izawa
- Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University-Misasa, Misasa, Japan
| | - H H Kaplan
- Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - M C Nolan
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - B Rizk
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - H L Roper
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D J Scheeres
- Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - P H Smith
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - K J Walsh
- Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - C W V Wolner
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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11
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Hergenrother CW, Maleszewski CK, Nolan MC, Li JY, Drouet d'Aubigny CY, Shelly FC, Howell ES, Kareta TR, Izawa MRM, Barucci MA, Bierhaus EB, Campins H, Chesley SR, Clark BE, Christensen EJ, DellaGiustina DN, Fornasier S, Golish DR, Hartzell CM, Rizk B, Scheeres DJ, Smith PH, Zou XD, Lauretta DS. The operational environment and rotational acceleration of asteroid (101955) Bennu from OSIRIS-REx observations. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1291. [PMID: 30890725 PMCID: PMC6425024 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09213-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During its approach to asteroid (101955) Bennu, NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft surveyed Bennu's immediate environment, photometric properties, and rotation state. Discovery of a dusty environment, a natural satellite, or unexpected asteroid characteristics would have had consequences for the mission's safety and observation strategy. Here we show that spacecraft observations during this period were highly sensitive to satellites (sub-meter scale) but reveal none, although later navigational images indicate that further investigation is needed. We constrain average dust production in September 2018 from Bennu's surface to an upper limit of 150 g s-1 averaged over 34 min. Bennu's disk-integrated photometric phase function validates measurements from the pre-encounter astronomical campaign. We demonstrate that Bennu's rotation rate is accelerating continuously at 3.63 ± 0.52 × 10-6 degrees day-2, likely due to the Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack (YORP) effect, with evolutionary implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- C W Hergenrother
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - C K Maleszewski
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M C Nolan
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - J-Y Li
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - F C Shelly
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - E S Howell
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - T R Kareta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M R M Izawa
- Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University-Misasa, Misasa, Tottori, Japan
| | - M A Barucci
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Univ. Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Meudon, France
| | | | - H Campins
- Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - S R Chesley
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - B E Clark
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - E J Christensen
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D N DellaGiustina
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - S Fornasier
- LESIA, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Univ. Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Meudon, France
| | - D R Golish
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C M Hartzell
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - B Rizk
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D J Scheeres
- Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - P H Smith
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - X-D Zou
- Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D S Lauretta
- Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Golish DR, Vera EM, Kelly KJ, Gong Q, Jansen PA, Hughes JM, Kittle DS, Brady DJ, Gehm ME. Development of a scalable image formation pipeline for multiscale gigapixel photography. Opt Express 2012; 20:22048-22062. [PMID: 23037355 DOI: 10.1364/oe.20.022048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We report on the image formation pipeline developed to efficiently form gigapixel-scale imagery generated by the AWARE-2 multiscale camera. The AWARE-2 camera consists of 98 "microcameras" imaging through a shared spherical objective, covering a 120° x 50° field of view with approximately 40 microradian instantaneous field of view (the angular extent of a pixel). The pipeline is scalable, capable of producing imagery ranging in scope from "live" one megapixel views to full resolution gigapixel images. Architectural choices that enable trivially parallelizable algorithms for rapid image formation and on-the-fly microcamera alignment compensation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Golish
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
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Abstract
Spectroscopic chemical classification based on adaptive, feature-specific measurements has been implemented and demonstrated to provide significant performance gain over traditional systems. The measurement scheme and the decision model are discussed. A prototype system with a digital micro-mirror device as the adaptive element has been constructed and validates the theoretical findings and simulation results.
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Affiliation(s)
- D V Dinakarababu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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