Meanings of minor planet names: 121001–122000

NASA Invites Public, Media to Watch Asteroid Mission Begin Return to Earth

Retrieved on: 
Friday, May 7, 2021
Planetary science, Minor planets, Spacecraft, New Frontiers program, OSIRIS-REx, Planetary defense, 101955 Bennu, Sample-return mission, Planetary surface, NASA, Meanings of minor planet names: 129001–130000, Meanings of minor planet names: 121001–122000

b"WASHINGTON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA invites the public and the media to watch its first asteroid sample return mission begin a two-year cruise home at 4 p.m. EDT Monday, May 10, on NASA Television , the NASA app , and the agency's website .

Key Points: 
  • b"WASHINGTON, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA invites the public and the media to watch its first asteroid sample return mission begin a two-year cruise home at 4 p.m. EDT Monday, May 10, on NASA Television , the NASA app , and the agency's website .
  • Answers will post to NASA Solar System's Instagram stories on May 11.\nOrigins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) is the first NASA mission to visit a near-Earth asteroid, survey the surface, and collect a sample to deliver to Earth.
  • During the broadcast, scientists will reveal new imagery from the mission's final flyover of the asteroid Bennu and discuss the tense moments from the sample grab in October 2020.
  • OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA's New Frontiers Program, managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency's Science Mission Directorate Washington.\nFor more information on OSIRIS-REx, visit:\n"

Asteroid Day Returns To Celebrate 25 Years Of Dedicated Asteroid Missions

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 15, 2021
Space science, Applied sciences, Asteroids, Asteroid Day, Asteroid mining, Planetary defense, Planetary science, Asteroids in fiction, Meanings of minor planet names: 121001–122000

It was the first mission dedicated to exploring asteroids and it became the first mission to orbit and touch down on an asteroid paving the way for all future asteroid missions.

Key Points: 
  • It was the first mission dedicated to exploring asteroids and it became the first mission to orbit and touch down on an asteroid paving the way for all future asteroid missions.
  • Asteroid Day's theme of 25 years of asteroid missions will be promoted throughout the month of June, kicking off with Asteroid Day TV June 1st.
  • Asteroid Day's core programs comprise Asteroid Day TV and Asteroid Day LIVE.
  • Annually, the Foundation organizes events surrounding International Asteroid Day, a United Nations recognized day of education and awareness observed on 30 June.

NASA's OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft Goes for Early Stow of Asteroid Sample

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 26, 2020
Spacecraft, Spaceflight, Minor planets, New Frontiers program, OSIRIS-REx, Planetary defense, TAGSAM, Sample-return mission, 101955 Bennu, Meanings of minor planet names: 121001–122000, Meanings of minor planet names: 129001–130000

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission is ready to perform an early stow on Tuesday, Oct. 27, of the large sample it collected last week from the surface of the asteroid Bennu to protect and return as much of the sample as possible.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission is ready to perform an early stow on Tuesday, Oct. 27, of the large sample it collected last week from the surface of the asteroid Bennu to protect and return as much of the sample as possible.
  • However, larger rocks that didn't fully pass through the flap into the TAGSAM appear to have wedged this flap open, allowing bits of the sample to leak out.
  • Because the first sample collection event was so successful, NASA's Science Mission Directorate has given the mission team the go-ahead to expedite sample stowage, originally scheduled for Nov. 2, in the spacecraft's Sample Return Capsule (SRC) to minimize further sample loss.
  • Unlike other spacecraft operations where OSIRIS-REx autonomously runs through an entire sequence, stowing the sample is done in stages and requires the team's oversight and input.

NASA to Broadcast OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Collection Activities

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Minor planets, Planetary science, Spacecraft, 101955 Bennu, OSIRIS-REx, Planetary surface, TAGSAM, Meanings of minor planet names: 121001–122000

In addition to the broadcast Tuesday, Oct. 18, briefings and social media activities will cover the mission and asteroid science on Monday, Oct. 19.

Key Points: 
  • In addition to the broadcast Tuesday, Oct. 18, briefings and social media activities will cover the mission and asteroid science on Monday, Oct. 19.
  • OSIRIS-REx, which is about the size of a 15-passenger van, is currently orbiting the asteroid Bennu 200 million miles from Earth.
  • 1:20 to 6:30 p.m. Live stream animation displaying OSIRIS-REx's sample collection activities in real time.
  • 5 to 6:30 p.m. Live broadcast from Lockheed Martin of OSIRIS-REx's descent to the surface of Bennu and attempt at sample collection.

NASA Mission Reveals Asteroid Has Big Surprises

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
NASA, Spacecraft, New Frontiers program, OSIRIS-REx, Planetary defense, Spaceflight, 101955 Bennu, Michael Julian Drake, Meanings of minor planet names: 121001–122000

Bennu is the target of NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission, which began orbiting the asteroid on Dec. 31.

Key Points: 
  • Bennu is the target of NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission, which began orbiting the asteroid on Dec. 31.
  • Following a safety assessment, the mission team concluded the particles did not pose a risk to the spacecraft.
  • Goddard provides overall mission management, systems engineering, and the safety and mission assurance for OSIRIS-REx.
  • OSIRIS-REx is the third mission in NASA's New Frontiers Program, which is managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.

NASA to Discuss Lunar and Planetary Science at Houston-area Conference

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 15, 2019
Spacecraft, Outer space, Spaceflight, Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Sample-return mission, Lunar and Planetary Institute, OSIRIS-REx, Planetary science, NASA, Hayabusa, Planetary Missions Program Office, Meanings of minor planet names: 121001–122000

HOUSTON, March 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --NASA scientists from across the agency will highlight the advances in lunar science in the last 50 years as well as findings from Mars and asteroid sample return missions during the 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 18-22.

Key Points: 
  • HOUSTON, March 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --NASA scientists from across the agency will highlight the advances in lunar science in the last 50 years as well as findings from Mars and asteroid sample return missions during the 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, March 18-22.
  • Special session panels will feature information on how the Moon became the foundation of planetary science, results and images from the New Horizons spacecraft, NASA's InSight mission, OSIRIS-Rex and Hayabusa2.
  • NASA also will hold two briefings at the conference.
  • The conference is presented by the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston.

NASA OSIRIS-REx Flexes its "Arm" Before Arriving at Asteroid Bennu

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 16, 2018
Planetary science, Spacecraft, Outer space, New Frontiers program, OSIRIS-REx, Planetary defense, 101955 Bennu, NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Planetary surface, Asteroid, Meanings of minor planet names: 121001–122000

The maneuver demonstrates that TAGSAM is ready to collect surface material (regolith) from Bennu.

Key Points: 
  • The maneuver demonstrates that TAGSAM is ready to collect surface material (regolith) from Bennu.
  • "This was a very important milestone in checking out the hardware required to collect an asteroid sample."
  • The spacecraft is scheduled to reach Bennu on Dec. 3, 2018, and complete a survey of the asteroid over the next two years.
  • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt provides overall mission management, systems engineering and safety and mission assurance for OSIRIS-REx.