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This account is no longer active. Follow for the latest on NASA's OSIRIS-REx Mission #ToBennuAndBack.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx’s Tweets
"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
T.S. Eliot
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We arrived, we TAG-ed… and soon, we’re making our way back home 🌎
Celebrate with us as we prepare for OSIRIS-REx's departure from asteroid Bennu! Download the annual OSIRIS-REx commemorative poster here: bit.ly/3czjYwT
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We're counting down to 🥧#PiDay✨ with the math problems we use to explore space at .
Can you calculate how many of 's circular sample pads had to touch the asteroid Bennu to meet the mission goal.
Take the #NASAPiDayChallenge at go.nasa.gov/piday
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Don't forget, I'll be moving to my new Twitter home to join other asteroid missions like #MissionToPsyche and the #LucyMission. Check for updates on the journey #ToBennuAndBack starting on March 15 🦾
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This image shows a top-down view of Bennu, with the camera pointed directly at its North Pole. A portion of the asteroid’s equatorial ridge and northern hemisphere are illuminated. It was taken on Mar. 4 from about 186 miles (300 km) away. More details:
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Feels great to see Bennu again!
The final flyby is exactly ONE month away 🤩
Here’s what’s coming up after the April 7 farewell flyover:
🚀 Depart asteroid Bennu
🌎 Return to Earth
☄️ Drop off the Sample Return Capsule
🧪 Sample analysis! 👩🔬
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Hi Friends! In two weeks I'll be moving to my new Twitter home 🏠 Be sure to follow me over to , where you can find future updates on me and my mission #ToBennuAndBack 🌑
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Mary W. Jackson, one of our Hidden Figures who helped us succeed in getting into space, will be honored during a ceremony featuring poet Nikki Giovanni, journalist , historian & many others. Watch at 1pm ET: go.nasa.gov/2ZUpS5S
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Hello, world. My first look at my forever home. #CountdownToMars
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It's time ... is ready for Mars!
Tune in to nasa.gov/nasalive at 2:15 pm EST to watch the the live broadcast of Perseverance's landing on the red planet.
Good luck to the entire team!
#CountdownToMars
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Wishing my rover sampling friend a safe landing tomorrow! You got this 🦾 Join the #CountdownToMars tomorrow at 2:15 pm EST nasa.gov/nasalive
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LIVE NOW🔴
Tune in to see what to expect from the most difficult Mars landing ever attempted. I’m the most massive and technologically advanced rover to date, and one day from the most harrowing part of my trip: Entry Descent and Landing. youtu.be/SO6__cLGkYw #CountdownToMars
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It’s #ValentinesDay this weekend! Spread the love with an OSIRIS-REx card 💌
Download a Valentine’s card from the lovely collection here: bit.ly/2ZdrZl0
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On April 7, I’ll take one last look at asteroid Bennu 🌑
I’ll spend ~4 hours capturing images from 2.4 miles (3.8 km), focusing on site Nightingale to see how Bennu’s surface was transformed by the sample collection event.
More about the final flyby: go.nasa.gov/3p9Rj61
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Download the map of Bennu’s named features:
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The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has approved more names for surface features on Bennu! The asteroid's surface features are named after birds and bird-like creatures in mythology. Explore the surface features and the origins of their names here: on.doi.gov/3oBwHTS
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35 years ago today, the space shuttle Challenger and all seven crew members aboard were lost. On this Day of Remembrance, we honor the Challenger crew and all who gave their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery: youtu.be/CnqCWo46fzM
#NASARemembers
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Save the date! I'll be leaving Bennu on May 10 — but it looks like I might get one last close-up with the asteroid before my journey back to Earth 🛰🌎
Learn more about the departure and final flyby here: bit.ly/2M9VG3f
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The samples from asteroid Ryugu in the re-entry capsule weigh about 5.4g! This greatly exceeds the the target yield of 0.1g (the amount required for the initial scientific analysis) set during the design of Hayabusa2.
(Article in Japanese: fanfun.jaxa.jp/topics/detail/)
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Two planets are dancing in the night sky! On Dec 21, they’ll be the closest they’ve appeared in nearly 400 years 🪐⭐️ Tune in to today’s #NASAScience Live at 3:00 p.m. ET to learn more about the Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter! nasa.gov/nasalive
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A resounding round of applause to the entire team 👏 We can't wait to learn more about the samples of Ryugu and what they can teach us about the history of our Solar System ✨
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This video is an extract from yesterday’s press conference, with Hayabusa2 Project Manager Yuichi Tsuda confirming samples from Ryugu in the capsule!
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A large number of particles are confirmed to be in “sample chamber A” inside the collected capsule (~11:10 JST on 12/15). This is thought to be the sample from the first touchdown on Ryugu. The photo looks brown, but our team says “black”! The sample return is a great success!
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Yippee! 🤩
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The sample container inside the re-entry capsule was opened on December 14, and we confirmed black grains thought to be from Ryugu were inside. This is outside the main chambers, and likely particles attached to the sample catcher entrance. (English release available tomorrow) twitter.com/JAXA_jp/status…
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A huge congratulations to all of our friends on the team! 🎉 So happy that the precious pieces of asteroid Ryugu arrived on Earth safe and sound. Patiently awaiting 2023, when we can compare the samples of Bennu and Ryugu 🌑
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Capsule collection! The helicopter team immediately flew to the location identified by the DFS team. They searched for the fallen capsule by using radio waves and maps. Thank you very much!
(Collection Team M)
#Hayabusa2
#はやぶさ２
#AsteroidExplorerHayabusa2
#HAYA2Report
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Hayabusa2, my sister mission led by , will deliver a sample of asteroid Ryugu to Earth in just 5 days! 🌏 I'm counting down the hours until our friends on Earth receive their precious cargo in Australia. Follow to join the final days of their journey home 💌
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[5 days until our return to Earth]
Today’s memory is “the moment you collect the history of the Solar System”.
Images captured on July 11, 2019 from 10:03:54 ~ 10:11:44. 10 x speed video by the small monitor camera (CAM-H) during the 2nd touchdown.
Images captured on July 11, 2019 from 10:03:54 ~ 10:11:44. 10 x speed video by the small monitor camera (CAM-H) during the 2nd touchdown.
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The series on the left shows SamCam’s field of view and the series on the right shows NavCam 2’s field of view. The series in the middle illustrates where the cameras captured images of Bennu’s surface in relation to sample site Nightingale. More details: bit.ly/3nyX78I
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4 weeks ago I collected a sample of asteroid Bennu’s surface 💥
I captured the event using a few different cameras. This is how they look side-by-side 📸
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As a former professor and now leader of NASA’s science program, I have been thinking about achieving mastery — whether it is in rocket science or on the ski slopes — and I thought I would share some of the thoughts that are most important to me: go.nasa.gov/35te6mm
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Boulders on Bennu are riddled with small craters — likely a result of micro-meteorites impacting the boulders over time. So, what led scientists to this epiphany?
Learn more about what one of our mission scientists saw in Bennu’s shadows: go.nature.com/2UjPEgT
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Remember when I touched down on asteroid Bennu? 🤯
Let’s look back at how some of my team members were feeling that day. Thanks to them, we’ve all been able to celebrate the journey #ToBennuAndBack!
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Now that the sample is sealed up in the Sample Return Capsule, I can finally share this video from TAG!
This is the view from one of my navigation cameras… pretty intense, huh? #ToBennuAndBack
More details: bit.ly/2TFBEhe
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Then I closed up the capsule last night. Definitely a little bittersweet! But I'm excited to get this sample to my team on Earth 🌍
Read more about what the stow process looked like: bit.ly/3jDGYwb
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And on Wednesday morning, I made sure the collector head was in there nice and snug!
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I placed the collector head into the SRC on Tuesday evening…
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I’ve officially closed the Sample Return Capsule! The sample of Bennu is sealed inside and ready for our voyage back to Earth. The SRC will touch down in the Utah desert on Sep. 24, 2023. Thanks, everyone, for being a part of my journey #ToBennuAndBack
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Tune in today at 4 pm EDT for an update on where we’re at with stowing the sample. It’s certainly been an adventure #ToBennuAndBack. More details: go.nasa.gov/3e85t3n
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Yesterday, I successfully placed the sample collector head into the Sample Return Capsule. It’s locked in tight!
Next up: disconnecting the gas tube and TAGSAM arm. Then I’ll be ready to seal up the SRC. More details: bit.ly/2Tzu1ZG
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This back-and-forth process will take multiple days, with my team working around the clock to oversee and assess the stowage. Currently, I’m awaiting my team’s confirmation to proceed with the next step.
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