Hayabusa2

Hayabusa2
Name	Hayabusa2
Mission type	Asteroid sample-return
Operator	Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
COSPAR ID	2014-076A
SATCAT	40319
Mission duration	Planned: 6 years, Elapsed: 7 years, 10 months, 24 days
Spacecraft	Hayabusa2
Manufacturer	NEC, JAXA
Launch mass	609 kg
Dry mass	490 kg
Power	2.6 kW (at 1 AU)
Launch date	3 December 2014, 04:22:04 UTC
Launch rocket	H-IIA 202
Launch site	Tanegashima Space Center
Deployed from	H-IIA
Deployment date	3 December 2014
Landing date	5 December 2020
Recovered by	JAXA
Recovery date	6 December 2020
Landing site	Woomera Test Range
Orbit reference	162173 Ryugu
Orbit regime	Heliocentric orbit
Apsis	helion
Insignia caption	Mission logo

Hayabusa2 is an ambitious asteroid sample-return mission developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Building upon the legacy of the original Hayabusa mission, it targeted the carbonaceous near-Earth object 162173 Ryugu. The spacecraft successfully collected subsurface material and returned these pristine samples to Earth in December 2020, providing unprecedented insights into the early Solar System.

Overview

Launched aboard an H-IIA rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center, the mission was a cornerstone of Japan's planetary exploration program. The project involved extensive international collaboration, with instruments contributed by teams from Germany, France, and the United States. Operations were managed by JAXA's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, with project scientist Makoto Yoshikawa playing a key leadership role.

Mission objectives

The primary goal was to obtain detailed data on 162173 Ryugu and return surface and subsurface samples to Earth for laboratory analysis. Scientific objectives included characterizing the asteroid's physical properties, composition, and geological history to understand the role of such bodies in delivering water and organic materials to the early Earth. The mission also aimed to demonstrate advanced technologies, such as precise navigation and a novel impactor system, for future deep-space exploration.

Spacecraft design

The spacecraft inherited and improved upon the design of its predecessor, Hayabusa. It was equipped with four primary ion thruster engines for efficient deep-space propulsion and a sophisticated guidance system featuring optical navigation cameras. Key payloads included the Small Carry-on Impactor (SCI) to excavate subsurface material, the Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) lander provided by DLR and CNES, and three miniature MINERVA-II rovers. The sample collection system utilized a projectile and horn mechanism to capture ejecta during brief touchdowns.

Mission timeline and events

Following its launch in late 2014, the spacecraft performed an Earth swing-by in 2015 to gain momentum. It arrived at 162173 Ryugu in June 2018, commencing a detailed remote sensing survey. In 2019, it executed two successful sample collection touchdowns and deployed the SCI to create an artificial crater. The Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout and rovers conducted in-situ surface studies. After departure in November 2019, the return capsule re-entered Earth's atmosphere and landed at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia in December 2020.

Sample analysis and scientific results

Initial analysis at the Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center in Sagamihara confirmed the presence of abundant hydrated minerals and organic matter. Studies published in journals like Science (journal) and Nature Astronomy revealed that 162173 Ryugu's material is among the most primitive ever studied, closely resembling CI chondrite meteorites. Findings indicated the asteroid formed from rubble-pile remnants of a larger parent body that experienced aqueous alteration, providing crucial evidence for the distribution of prebiotic materials in the inner Solar System.

Legacy and future missions

The mission's success cemented JAXA's leadership in sample-return technology and asteroid science. Its methods directly inform the upcoming Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission to Phobos (moon) and Deimos (moon). The returned samples continue to be analyzed by global teams, with portions allocated to NASA and other international partners. The mission also demonstrated operational techniques critical for future planetary defense initiatives, such as the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART).

Category:Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Category:Asteroid spacecraft Category:Sample-return missions Category:Spacecraft launched in 2014