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Touchdown on the Australian Outback

On December 6, 2020, the Hayabusa2 return capsule successfully landed in the remote Woomera Prohibited Area in the Australian outback. The capsule carried precious samples from asteroid Ryugu, marking a historic milestone in space exploration.

Mission Overview

The Hayabusa2 mission was launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2014 with the primary objective of studying the asteroid Ryugu. Over the course of six years, the spacecraft orbited Ryugu, deployed landers, and collected samples.

Sample Collection

During its time at Ryugu, Hayabusa2 performed two sample collection maneuvers:

Touch-and-Go (TAG): In April 2019, the spacecraft briefly touched down on the asteroid’s surface, firing a projectile to create an artificial crater. This maneuver ejected material that was collected by the spacecraft.
Sampling Horn: In July 2019, Hayabusa2 extended a sampling horn and collected subsurface material from another location on Ryugu.

Capsule Design

The Hayabusa2 return capsule was designed to protect the precious samples during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. It was equipped with a heat shield and parachutes to slow its descent.

Landing Operations

The capsule re-entered Earth’s atmosphere on December 5, 2020, and began a controlled descent. It released parachutes at a predetermined altitude to further reduce its speed. The capsule landed successfully in the Woomera Prohibited Area at approximately 12:51 AM Australian Central Standard Time (ACST).

Sample Analysis

The samples collected by Hayabusa2 are now being analyzed by scientists worldwide. Preliminary results have already yielded valuable insights into the composition and history of Ryugu.

The samples contain organic matter, water, and amino acids, which suggests that asteroids may have played a role in the origin of life on Earth. The mission has also provided information about the asteroid’s interior structure and formation.

Significance

The Hayabusa2 mission was a remarkable achievement that has deepened our understanding of asteroids and the early history of the solar system. The return capsule landing marks a major milestone in space exploration, paving the way for future missions to study other celestial bodies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is the significance of the Hayabusa2 mission?
A: Hayabusa2 collected valuable samples from asteroid Ryugu, providing insights into the composition and history of asteroids and their potential role in the origin of life.

Hayabusa2 Mission Objectives

Sample Collection: Collect a sample from the asteroid Ryugu, a potentially carbon-rich body that may preserve organic matter and signs of ancient life.
Surface Exploration: Study the asteroid’s surface composition, morphology, and past geological processes using remote sensing instruments and a deployable lander.
Subsurface Analysis: Obtain data on Ryugu’s subsurface structure and composition by deploying an impactor to create an artificial crater.
Study of Origins and Evolution: Investigate the formation and evolution of asteroids and the delivery of organic matter to Earth’s early atmosphere.
Technology Demonstration: Test advanced spacecraft technologies, including ion propulsion, autonomous navigation, and sample handling.

Hayabusa2 Spacecraft Design

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft, designed for an asteroid sample-return mission, consists of the spacecraft bus and the Sample Return Capsule (SRC).

Spacecraft Bus:
- Equipped with solar panels, antennas, sensors, and ion engines for propulsion and attitude control
- Houses scientific instruments like the LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), NIRS3 (Near-Infrared Spectrometer), and OTES (Optical Telescope and Telecommunication System)
Sample Return Capsule (SRC):
- Designed to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and land safely
- Contains a copper sample chamber for collecting and preserving asteroid samples
- Equipped with a deployable heat shield and parachute for a controlled descent

Hayabusa2 Sample Collection

Hayabusa2, the Japanese space probe, successfully collected samples from the asteroid Ryugu. The sampling occurred in two distinct phases:

Touchdown and Sample Acquisition:

The spacecraft landed on Ryugu in February 2019.
A sampler horn was extended and shot a small explosive charge into the asteroid’s surface.
Debris from the explosion was collected in a sample container.

Projectile Sampling:

A small, impactor bullet was fired at Ryugu to create a large crater.
Material ejected from the crater was collected in a separate sample container.

Sample Return:

The spacecraft departed Ryugu in November 2019.
The sample container, containing approximately 5.4 grams of material, was returned to Earth in December 2020.

The samples collected by Hayabusa2 provide valuable insights into the composition, origin, and evolution of asteroids. They have the potential to shed light on the formation and early history of the solar system.

Hayabusa2 Landing Site on Ryugu

The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 landed on the asteroid Ryugu on September 21, 2018, at a site known as the "MASCOT Deployment Site." This location was chosen after extensive surveys and analysis, considering factors such as the asteroid’s surface topography, the presence of potential sampling targets, and the availability of sunlight for the rover MASCOT (Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout).

The landing site is located in a small crater within the Ryugu’s flat-topped region. This area is relatively smooth and has minimal obstacles, making it suitable for landing. It also contains various rock formations and a variety of surface materials, providing a diverse sampling environment for Hayabusa2’s mission to collect samples and investigate Ryugu’s composition and origin.

Hayabusa2 Mission Timeline

December 3, 2014: Hayabusa2 launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan.
July 3, 2018: Hayabusa2 reached the asteroid Ryugu.
September 2018 to February 2019: Hayabusa2 conducted detailed surveys of Ryugu, including taking images, collecting data on its surface composition, and deploying landing probes.
February 22, 2019: Hayabusa2 deployed four impactors into Ryugu’s surface, creating a crater and exposing subsurface material.
April 5, 2019: Hayabusa2 collected samples from Ryugu’s surface.
November 13, 2019: Hayabusa2 departed Ryugu.
December 5, 2020: Hayabusa2 returned to Earth, bringing back the Ryugu samples.

Hayabusa2 Re-entry into Earth’s Atmosphere

On December 5, 2020, the Hayabusa2 spacecraft successfully re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, marking the culmination of its six-year mission to the asteroid Ryugu. The spacecraft carried back invaluable samples of the asteroid, providing scientists with unprecedented insights into the origins of our solar system.

The re-entry capsule containing the samples faced intense heat and pressure as it plunged through the atmosphere at approximately 25,000 kilometers per hour. Specialized heat shields protected the capsule, ensuring the integrity of its precious cargo. The capsule successfully landed in the Australian outback, where it was retrieved by scientists and researchers.

The successful re-entry and recovery of Hayabusa2’s samples represent a major scientific achievement. The samples are now being carefully analyzed, and their findings are expected to shed further light on the formation and evolution of the Earth and other planets in our solar system.

Hayabusa2 Mission Cost

The Hayabusa2 mission, a Japanese space probe sent to explore the asteroid Ryugu, had a total estimated cost of approximately 27.3 billion yen (around 245 million US dollars) in 2014. This included launch costs, spacecraft and instrument development, mission operations, and data analysis. The mission was funded primarily by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Hayabusa2 Mission Partners

The Hayabusa2 mission was supported by a consortium of international partners, including:

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as the lead agency
University of Tokyo and Nagoya University (Japan)
National Institute for Environmental Studies (Japan)
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES, France)
German Aerospace Center (DLR, Germany)
University of Glasgow (UK)
Curtin University (Australia)
The University of Arizona (USA)

Hayabusa2 Mission Team

The Hayabusa2 mission team consists of scientists, engineers, and other personnel from Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and international partners. The team is responsible for planning, executing, and analyzing the results of the Hayabusa2 mission, which aims to return a sample of material from the asteroid Ryugu to Earth for further study.

Mission Manager: Yuichi Tsuda
Project Manager: Hitoshi Kuninaka
Science Manager: Sei-ichiro Watanabe
Engineering Manager: Takashi Kubota
International Collaboration Manager: Eiichi Tatsumi

The team includes experts in various fields, including astrophysics, planetary science, engineering, and mission operations. The team has been working together since the early stages of the Hayabusa2 mission, and they have successfully overcome numerous challenges to bring the mission to its current stage.