Hayabusa2
ActiveLaunched in 2014·En route to 1998 KY26
A Japanese probe that returned samples from asteroid Ryugu in 2020 and is now extended toward a small fast-spinning asteroid, 1998 KY26.
Main objectives
- Return samples from a primitive asteroid.
- Study the origin of water and organic molecules.
- Rendezvous with 1998 KY26 (extended mission).
Did you know?
Hayabusa2 fired a copper impactor into Ryugu to blast an artificial crater and sample material never exposed to the Sun.
Timeline
Dec 03, 2014
Launch
H-IIA lift-off from Tanegashima.
Jun 27, 2018
Arrival at Ryugu
Rendezvous with asteroid Ryugu.
Apr 05, 2019
Artificial crater
Copper impactor fired to blast a crater.
Dec 06, 2020
Sample return
The capsule delivers more than 5 g of Ryugu material.
Nov 26, 2021
Extended mission
New target: asteroid 1998 KY26, reached around 2031.
Hayabusa2
Instruments
[03]Specifications
Mass
Return
Target
Discoveries
[02]- SampleBreakthroughRyugu samples returned to EarthDec 06, 2020JAXA/Hayabusa2 ↗
- SampleNotableSample returnDec 06, 2020
Mission milestones
[01]- MilestoneExtended missionNov 26, 2021