Media Advisory - Canada begins mapping asteroid Bennu

OSIRIS-REx's first science data to be presented during the American Geophysical Union 2018 Fall Meeting

LONGUEUIL, QC, Dec. 7, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - On December 10, the American Geophysical Union (AGU) will be hosting a press conference presenting the first science data obtained from asteroid Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx mission, to which the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has contributed the most sophisticated scanning lidar ever flown to space: the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA).  

Shortly after the spacecraft's arrival at Bennu on December 3, OLA began scanning the asteroid's surface. Results will help scientists identify and select the best site to collect a sample.

Canada will receive a portion of the returned asteroid material, allowing Canada's scientific community to conduct investigations that will help unravel the asteroid's physical, chemical, and geological mysteries.

Media representatives are invited to connect to the press conference.

Date:	December 10, 2018
Time:	2:00 p.m. ET
What:	Press conference on OSIRIS-REx, an asteroid sample-return mission
Who:	Jeff Grossman, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Dante Lauretta, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A. Michael Nolan, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A. Amy Simon, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A.
Where:	Webstreaming on the AGU's press conference webpage

Website: http://asc-csa.gc.ca
Follow us on social media

SOURCE Canadian Space Agency

Canadian Space Agency, Media Relations Office, Telephone: [phone], , Email: [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca