Former Deep Space Mission Operations Program Manager, Beth Buck, oversaw multiple spacecraft missions exploring our solar system and beyond. She shared how the OSIRIS REx (now OSIRIS APEx) used new technology to “TAG” an asteroid that was full of surprises and then brought back a sample that scientists are currently analyzing.
Our meeting got off to a technical glitch start due to Beth’s new IPAD having a different connection than what we had used previously. Matt Grogan, the cable man, helped her get connected. However while she was connecting Matt talked about some additional facts on the Apollo 13 Mission that he didn’t cover previously in his presentation. He refreshed our math skills the use by discussing the determination of the spacecraft trajectory with Doppler data from the spacecraft using a “Least Squares Fit “approach. It was very interesting. Our PACESETTERS are still razor sharp.
Beth gave her usual very professional presentation. She described the many decisions that had to be made in real time landing on the asteroid without disturbing the sample area or punching a hole in the asteroid surface which is much like Styrofoam. She described the more critical decisions. She said that the project was managed by a “badge less” team made up of Lockheed Martin the spacecraft builder and operator, NASA and the University of Arizona as principle investigator. They all worked quite well as a team. The sample was returned via a sealed container and dropped softly by parachute. It was then transferred to Houston for analysis. There was excellent interaction during her presentation.
Thank you Beth for your time with us and you Matt for your filling in.
