NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission successfully placed the spacecraft's sample collector head into its Sample Return Capsule (SRC). After the head was seated into the SRC's capture ring, the spacecraft performed a "backout check," which commanded the TAGSAM arm to back out of the capsule.

This maneuver is designed to tug on the collector head and ensure that the latches - which keep the collector head in place - are well secured. Following the test, the mission team received telemetry confirming that the head is properly secured in the SRC.

Before the sampler head can be sealed into the SRC, two mechanical parts on the TAGSAM arm must first be disconnected - these are the tube that carried the nitrogen gas to the TAGSAM head during sample collection and the TAGSAM arm itself.

Over the next several hours, the mission team will command the spacecraft to cut the tube and separate the collector head from the TAGSAM arm. Once the team confirms these activities have executed as planned, they will command the spacecraft to seal the SRC.

StowCam, a color imager, is one of three cameras comprising TAGCAMS (the Touch-and-Go Camera System), which is part of OSIRIS-REx's guidance, navigation, and control system. TAGCAMS was designed, built and tested by Malin Space Science Systems; Lockheed Martin integrated TAGCAMS to the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft and operates TAGCAMS.

Related Links
OSIRIS-REx
Asteroid and Comet Mission News, Science and Technology

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