In a first for space exploration, NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft briefly reached out to ‘TAG’ the surface of asteroid Bennu – grabbing a soil sample that it is bringing back to Earth.

Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) was launched by from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Sept. 8, 2016. Seven years later, it will return to Earth carrying the asteroid sample it obtained this week.

The spacecraft has been orbiting Bennu since its arrival in December of 2018. But today, OSIRIS-Rex extended is specially designed TAGSAM arm – plunging it into the surface of Bennu. It kicked up a lot of dust and managed to collect a 5 billion-year-old soil sample for later analysis.

TAGSAM stands for Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism. As the name suggests, the design is ingeniously simple. As shown in the image and sequence video below, the TAGSAM device plunges into the soil briefly – forcing soil up into the collection area.

“This amazing first for NASA demonstrates how an incredible team from across the country came together and persevered through incredible challenges to expand the boundaries of knowledge,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

“Our industry, academic, and international partners have made it possible to hold a piece of the most ancient solar system in our hands.”

The NASA team is working to determine whether the sample size obtained is large enough. If it is not, they will command another TAG maneuver in January. Otherwise, commands will be sent to the spacecraft, prepping it for storage of the sample.

The current plan is for the OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft to exit its orbit and start heading back to Earth in March. For full mission details, visit this NASA.gov link.

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