THE OSIRIS-REx LASER ALTIMETER (OLA)

Paper number

IAC-16,A3,4,7,x32370

Coauthor

Mr. Menachem (Manny) Nimelman, MDA, Canada

Coauthor

Dr. Cameron Dickinson, MDA, Canada

Coauthor

Mr. Jeffrey Tripp, Canada

Coauthor

Mr. Frank Teti, MDA Corporation, Canada

Coauthor

Dr. Michael Daly, York University, Canada

Coauthor

Dr. Amy Shaw, MDA, Canada

Coauthor

Mr. Daniel Gaudreau, Canadian Space Agency, Canada

Year

2016

Abstract

The NASA Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission, scheduled for launch in September 2016, will bring a sample back to Earth from near-earth carbonaceous asteroid Bennu (1999RQ36). The spacecraft will reach Bennu in 2018 and return a sample to Earth in 2023. The OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA) is the Canadian Space Agency contribution to the OSIRIS-Rex Mission. The OLA system is a scanning time-of-flight lidar consisting of dual Nd:YAG lasers coupled to a 2-axis scanning mirror, complete with an integrated control and processing platform. The OLA instrument will support the medium and short range phases of the OSIRIS-REx mission. Using the high energy laser, OLA will provide both initial high accuracy range data of Bennu for the purposes of navigation, and later complete scans of the asteroid surface. The low energy laser stage will be employed at shorter ranges, where OLA data will be used to generate high density Bennu maps of the surface, specifically slopes and elevations. This data is used for selection of candidate Touch-And-Go (TAG) sites; planning the final TAG maneuver; and providing context for samples collected at the TAG sample location on Bennu. 
OLA’s unique capabilities allow it to support both OSIRIS-REx mission planners (GN&C ranging, 3D gravity model, relative pose, slope and elevation maps) as well as science team objectives (3D modeling, volume estimates, and IR return intensity maps).

Abstract document

IAC-16,A3,4,7,x32370.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-16,A3,4,7,x32370.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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