/R E P E A T -- 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
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SOURCE Canadian Space Agency