Hayabusa2 Probe Set for Historic Flyby of Torifune Asteroid
Japan's Hayabusa2 probe to conduct flyby of Torifune asteroid
Japan's Hayabusa2 probe is preparing for a daring flyby of the Torifune asteroid, approaching within 800 meters at 5 kilometers per second. This mission, part of the extended journey toward a 2031 target, aims to capture high-resolution images and gather critical data. The operation will test precise high-speed maneuvering technologies essential for future Planetary Defense efforts to protect Earth from potential asteroid impacts.
The agency hopes to acquire the technology to control the probe precisely and maneuver it close to asteroids at high speed to contribute to Planetary Defense efforts.
- pmontra
The real title of the article is very different:
"Japan's Hayabusa2 probe completes flyby of Torifune asteroid"
The flyby already happened last Sunday.
- onlypassingthru
I'll never work in Mission Control, but the Hayabusa2 website lets me pretend I do. Kudos to whomever designed this website:
- tjpnz
Seems it was successful and they captured an image:
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/science-nature/science/20260...