The OSIRIS-REx mission is currently exploring near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu. This asteroid is thought to be a remnant from the earliest stages of solar system history. It was selected as the mission target based on its dark surface, indicating the possible presence of carbon-bearing compounds. Such material is of interest to understand the early evolution of organic material and the role such asteroids may have played in delivered the materials needed for the origin of life on Earth. Bennu is also a potentially hazardous asteroid and one of the mission goals is to assess the impact hazard. The global mapping of Bennu is complete and four regions of interest have been identified on the asteroid surface as potential sampling locations. The mission has provided outstanding science results on the chemistry, mineralogy, geology, thermal properties, and dynamics of the asteroid. These results will be presented along with the path forward for sample collection in 2020.

About the Speaker:

Dante Lauretta is principal investigator of the OSIRIS-REx mission and a professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. His research interests focus on the chemistry and mineralogy of asteroids and comets, and he is an expert in the analysis of extraterrestrial materials, including asteroid samples, meteorites and comet particles. Dr. Lauretta heads a research team at the UA working on this mission, which has included more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students. The mission was selected in 2011, launched in 2016, and returns samples back to Earth in 2023. Sample analysis continues until 2025.
                   
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