AbstractThe Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched an asteroid sample return spacecraft "Hayabusa2" on December 3, 2014 by the Japanese H2A launch vehicle. Hayabusa2 aims at the round trip mission to the asteroid 162173 Ryugu. Hayabusa2 successfully conducted the Earth gravity assist on December 3, 2015, and now the spacecraft is flying toward Ryugu with the microwave discharge ion engine as the means of propulsion. As of September 2016, 1346h of the ion engine operation has been achieved as planned. Three touch downs/sample collections, one kinetic impact/crater generation, four surface rovers deployment and many other in-situ observations are planned in the asteroid proximity phase. The operation team will perform extensive operation practice/rehearsal using a hardware-in-the-loop simulator in the year 2017 to be ready for the asteroid arrival in the summer 2018.

    HighlightsJAXA successfully launched the world-second asteroid sample return mission Hayabusa2 in 2014.The spacecraft design, including 10 onboard instruments/robots, were overviewed.The first 1.5 years of operation history are explained with major achievements during the cruise.The Earth swingby was successful, and the ion engine propelled trajectory control goes smoothly.The future operation plan, such as asteroid proximity phase and Earth return cruise are described.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Cruise status of Hayabusa2: Round trip mission to asteroid 162173 Ryugu


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 136 ; 176-181


    Publication date :

    2017-03-16


    Size :

    6 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Magnetic Properties of Asteroid (162173) Ryugu

    Hercik, D. / Auster, H-U. / Constantinescu, D. et al. | German Aerospace Center (DLR) | 2020

    Free access

    Hayabusa2 mission status: Landing, roving and cratering on asteroid Ryugu

    Tsuda, Yuichi / Saiki, Takanao / Terui, Fuyuto et al. | Elsevier | 2020


    In-flight operation of the Hayabusa2 ion engine system on its way to rendezvous with asteroid 162173 Ryugu

    Nishiyama, Kazutaka / Hosoda, Satoshi / Tsukizaki, Ryudo et al. | Elsevier | 2019



    Mid-infrared emissivity of partially dehydrated asteroid (162173) Ryugu shows strong signs of aqueous alteration

    Hamm, Maximilian / Grott, Matthias / Senshu, H. et al. | German Aerospace Center (DLR) | 2022

    Free access