TAGSAM

TAGSAM is a robotic arm attached to the main body of the spacecraft that collects a sample from the asteroid, and puts the samples into the Earth return vehicle.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/tagsam-testing-complete-osiris-rex-prepared-to-tag-an-asteroid|title=OSIRIS-REx is Prepared to TAG an Asteroid|last=Hille|first=Karl|date=2018-11-16|website=NASA|access-date=2018-12-15}} Bennu is about 500 meters in diameter and has very low gravity, so the arm must perform the collection in near zero gravity, yet still contend with some gravitational forces from the asteroid.{{Cite journal|last1=Team|first1=the OSIRIS-REx|last2=Lauretta|first2=D. S.|last3=Beshore|first3=E.|last4=Dworkin|first4=J. P.|last5=May|first5=A. J.|last6=Wood|first6=J. L.|last7=Linn|first7=T. M.|last8=Kuhns|first8=R. M.|last9=Hund|first9=R. A.|date=2018-10-01|title=The OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft and the Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM)|journal=Space Science Reviews|language=en|volume=214|issue=7|pages=107|doi=10.1007/s11214-018-0521-6|bibcode=2018SSRv..214..107B|issn=1572-9672|doi-access=free}} One issue with small asteroids is their unique gravitational environment, and Bennu became the smallest body orbited by a spacecraft.

TAGSAM was designed to take up to three samples from the asteroid, although in the event the first sample was so large no other samples were attempted.{{cite web |title=NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft Goes for Early Stow of Asteroid Sample |url=https://www.asteroidmission.org/?latest-news=nasas-osiris-rex-spacecraft-goes-for-early-stow-of-asteroid-sample |website=www.asteroidmission.org |publisher=University of Arizona |access-date=5 October 2023}} The collection head was filled using a nitrogen gas injection that stired up the regolith. The arm is about {{convert|11|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} long, with three joints for articulation. SamCam acquires images of the collection head. Two major parts of TAGSAM are the robotic arm and the sample collection head.{{Cite web|url=https://dslauretta.com/2015/04/20/development-of-the-osiris-rex-sampling-system-tagsam-and-the-src/|title=Development of the OSIRIS-REx Sampling System: TAGSAM and the SRC|date=2015-04-20|website=dslauretta|language=en|access-date=2018-12-15|archive-date=2023-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207104906/https://dslauretta.com/2015/04/20/development-of-the-osiris-rex-sampling-system-tagsam-and-the-src/|url-status=dead}}

The arm was used in conjunction with several instruments on the spacecraft including three cameras, three spectrometers, and a laser altimeter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.universetoday.com/140841/osiris-rex-has-already-found-water-on-bennu/|title=OSIRIS-REx Has Already Found Water on Bennu|last=Gough|first=Evan|date=2018-12-11|website=Universe Today|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-15}}

Two identical TAGSAM units were made, one for use on the spacecraft called the flight unit, and another for testing on Earth called the qualification unit.

File:Tagsamlast.gif

File:OSIRIS-REX SamCam TAGSAM Event 2020-10-20 sub-100Mpx.gif

• 17 October 2018 — TAGSAM head cover jettisoned
• 25 October 2018 — Frangibolts fired, releasing the TAGSAM arm
• 14 November 2018 — TAGSAM arm fully extended for the first time{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/11/nasas-daring-asteroid-mission-unfurls-its-sampling-arm-for-the-first-time/|title = NASA's daring asteroid mission unfurls its sampling arm for the first time|date = 16 November 2018}}
• 15 April 2020 — rehearsal manouvre performed by OSIRIS-REx{{Cite web|url=https://phys.org/news/2020-04-closer-asteroid-bennu.html|title=One step closer to touching asteroid Bennu|last=Morton|first=Erin|date=April 16, 2020|website=Phys.org|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=April 16, 2020}}{{cite web|title=OSIRIS-REx Buzzes Sample Site Nightingale|date=14 April 2020|url=https://www.asteroidmission.org/checkpoint-rehearsal-movie/|website=AsteroidMission.org|publisher=NASA|access-date= 16 April 2020}} {{PD-notice}}
• 20 October 2020 — successful TAGSAM deployment and sample collection
• 24 September 2023 — safe touchdown on Earth of the OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=2023-09-27 |title=Scientists just opened the lid to NASA’s asteroid sample canister |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/09/scientists-get-first-glimpse-of-samples-returned-from-asteroid/ |access-date=2023-09-28 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}

• CAESAR
• Sample-return mission

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{{Commons category|Touch-And-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism (TAGSAM)}}

• [https://www.asteroidmission.org/?attachment_id=1699 TAGSAM Schematic]
• [https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/tagsam-testing-complete-osiris-rex-prepared-to-tag-an-asteroid TAGSAM Testing Complete: OSIRIS-REx Prepared to TAG an Asteroid]
• [https://www.instagram.com/p/BpFiD8DF4iL/ Animation of TAGSAM head cover being jettisoned]

Category:OSIRIS-REx

Category:Spacecraft instruments