Oct 14, 2019

This week, OSIRIS-REx successfully flew its first high-reconnaissance pass over candidate sample site Sandpiper. To better understand the region’s compositional characteristics, both OTES and OVIRS collected data during the flyby. OCAMS also captured over 350 images of the site and its surrounding region from ranges near 1 km above Bennu’s surface. These higher-resolution images have better lighting conditions than images previously taken when the spacecraft was flying a terminator orbit around Bennu, which will ultimately help the team to further evaluate the sampleability of Sandpiper. These images will be used to assess the fraction of the surface at the site that contains rocks too large to be ingested by the OSIRIS-REx sample collection head.

After completing its science activities, the team commanded navigation maneuver M2R, which prepared the spacecraft for its flyover of site Osprey. On October 8, the spacecraft executed the M3R navigation maneuver to place it on trajectory for the high flyby of site Osprey, which will occur on October 12.