Brian May, the guitarist from Queen, significantly aided NASA by creating stereoscopic images that proved crucial for the OSIRIS-REx mission.
May's expertise in stereoscopy, the technique of creating or enhancing the illusion of depth in an image, was instrumental in helping the OSIRIS-REx team, led by Dante Lauretta, to achieve a critical objective: identifying a safe and suitable landing site on the asteroid Bennu to collect a sample.
May's Contribution: Creating Stereoscopic Images
- Data Transformation: May processed data from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft.
- Stereoscopic Image Creation: He converted this data into stereoscopic images. These images provided a three-dimensional view of Bennu's surface.
- Landing Site Identification: These detailed 3D images allowed the mission team to accurately assess the asteroid's terrain, identifying areas relatively free of hazardous boulders and other obstacles. This significantly increased the probability of a successful landing and sample collection.
- Impact on Mission Success: The ability to visualize the surface in 3D was critical for navigating the challenging landscape of Bennu. It directly contributed to the successful selection of a safe landing site, enabling the mission's ultimate success of retrieving a sample of the asteroid.
In essence, Brian May leveraged his stereoscopic imaging skills to help NASA navigate the complexities of asteroid Bennu's surface, directly contributing to the success of the OSIRIS-REx mission by enabling the team to locate a viable and safe sample collection site.
