1.5
AU FROM SUN
DISTANCE
224,396,806 km
11 years, 139 days
MISSION DURATION
AND COUNTING
609
KG
LAUNCH MASS
4
TARGETS
Asteroid Ryugu, Earth, Asteroid 2001 CC21
Hayabusa2 is a sample return mission by JAXA targeting Asteroid 1998 KY26. Launched December 3, 2014. Currently 1.5 AU from the Sun.
ABOUT HAYABUSA2
Hayabusa2 collected samples from asteroid Ryugu and returned them to Earth in December 2020. Analysis of the samples revealed amino acids and organic compounds, providing clues about the origins of life. The spacecraft is now on an extended mission to fly by two more asteroids.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- Ryugu is a rubble pile with 50% porosity
- Ryugu samples contain amino acids and prebiotic organic molecules
- Carbon-rich material suggesting cometary origin
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- Successfully returned subsurface samples from asteroid Ryugu
- Deployed multiple rovers and a lander to asteroid surface
- Created artificial crater on Ryugu and collected subsurface material
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (7)
ONC (Optical Navigation Camera)
TIR (Thermal IR Imager)
NIRS3 (Near-IR Spectrometer)
LIDAR (Laser altimeter)
MINERVA-II rovers
MASCOT lander
SCI (Small Carry-on Impactor)
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Launch Mass609 kg (1,343 lbs)
PowerSolar panels
PropulsionIon engines
Launch VehicleH-IIA
Launch DateDecember 3, 2014
Arrival DateJune 27, 2018
ProgramHayabusa
MISSION TRAJECTORY
1
Asteroid Ryugu
2
Earth
3
Asteroid 2001 CC21
4
Asteroid 1998 KY26
🚀 LAUNCH MISSION