spacecraft successfully collected a sample return to Earth with the sample in September 2023.

1 year ago
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The statement describes the TAGSAM (Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism) mechanism, which is part of NASA's OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) mission. However, it contains inaccuracies.

The TAGSAM mechanism was indeed used to acquire a sample from the surface of the asteroid Bennu. However, instead of firing nitrogen gas, TAGSAM uses a burst of compressed gas to kick up surface materials, including small rocks and dust, into a collection chamber called the sampler head. The gas burst is not intended to create a reverse vacuum, but to cause disturbance and capture the sample.

The TAGSAM mechanism worked by briefly touching the surface of Bennu and firing a nitrogen gas burst to agitate and collect regolith (loose surface material) in the sampler head. The mechanism was designed to capture at least 60 grams (2 ounces) of regolith from the asteroid for return to Earth for scientific analysis.

The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft successfully collected a sample from Bennu in October 2020 and is expected to return to Earth with the sample in September 2023.

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