Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

Palomar · 2004-06-25 05:24:48

*Just now found the following item at spaceweather.com for today's date (it's also something folks in the southern hemisphere can look out for on the 26th):

***
ASTEROID FLYBY: Asteroid Itakowa is about to fly by Earth. At closest approach (5 lunar distances) on June 26th, it will be about as bright as a 13th magnitude star--an easy target for large backyard telescopes in the southern hemisphere (ephemeris). Japan's Hayabusa spacecraft is en route to Itakowa now. After catching the asteroid in 2005, Hayabusa will gather samples of the space rock and return them to Earth in 2007.
***

--Cindy

SpaceNut · 2005-06-08 05:54:44

Wow what an old thread and the only other place that the Hayabusa probe was mentioned in was the genisis smash one.

The Japan shoots for a piece of an asteroid with the Hayabusa probe sample-return mission nears critical stage in its quest for a celestial “smash-and-grab” space mission.

Of course there are other comet chasing probes on there way but none are to bring samples back.

The probe uses an ion-drive system with a distinctive design innovation using microwaves to ionize the xenon fuel.

Palomar · 2005-06-08 06:06:35

Wow what an old thread and the only other place that the Hayabusa probe was mentioned in was the genisis smash one.
The Japan shoots for a piece of an asteroid with the Hayabusa probe sample-return mission nears critical stage in its quest for a celestial “smash-and-grab” space mission.
Of course there are other comet chasing probes on there way but none are to bring samples back.
The probe uses an ion-drive system with a distinctive design innovation using microwaves to ionize the xenon fuel.

*Congrats on finding that update. I haven't seen an article pertaining to Hayabusa in a very long time (otherwise I would have posted it).

Looks like all is going well enough, despite that unpleasant earlier obstacle (solar flare damage).

--Cindy

::EDIT:: Hayabusa and the asteroid will pass behind Sol beginning next month; this will restrict radio contact. Once radio interference clears up, images should start rolling in.

This is cool too (carries on with your mention of it, SN):

It is the first probe to use microwaves to ionize the xenon fuel. Through electrostatic deflection — like charges repel each other — the four engines can produce a slow-but-steady gain or loss in total speed amounting to as much as 27 mph (12 meters per second) per day.
That’s about the same velocity gain that a rising rocket booster racks up in half a second. But traditional thrusters operate only sporadically for a few seconds or a few minutes at a time. In contrast, Hayabusa has been thrusting for two years, and now it has essentially reached its distant goal.

Hayabusa is currently closer to Itokawa than Earth to our Moon. Hayabusa is approaching at average speed of 225 mph.

Within a few months, after surveying the asteroid thoroughly from a safe distance, Hayabusa will swoop down to its surface and grab samples of the dirt for return to Earth, like a spacefaring bird of prey. In fact, the spacecraft's name comes from the Japanese word for "peregrine falcon."

Good luck to this mission.

Rxke · 2005-06-08 15:42:34

yea, they need every bit of luck they can get, the Japanese have had more than their share of setbacks...

exciting, complex mission, deserves to succeed...

Go, peregrine falcon!

(just to show off I did read the article )

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-08-05 07:48:52

This could be a very good mission

sounds like a great idea

SpaceNut · 2005-08-15 10:33:44

August 15 Space.com Astronotes:

Mission to Bring Back Bits of Asteroid Spots Target
The first round-trip mission to an asteroid has its quarry in sight.
The Japanese robotic probe Hayabusa, formerly called Muses-C, is on a four-year, 400-million-mile mission (600 million kilometers) to bring back samples of asteroid Itokawa. If successful, it will provide the first material from space returned since the Moon rocks of the Apollo era.
Mission officials today announced that the probe had tracked the asteroid in a series of 24 images from July 29 to Aug. 12. The asteroid appears as no more than a point of light in the pictures taken by Hayabusa’s star tracking camera, but seeing it is a milestone for the mission.
As of Friday, the spacecraft was 21,750 miles (35,000 kilometers) from the rock and slowing down. Its high-tech ion engine will soon be turned off. It will then come to rest, relative to the asteroid, 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) away.
After studying the asteroid from this perch for three months, Hayabusa will fire a bullet into the rock and collect ejected fragments. About two years later, it will parachute back to Earth.
Itokawa is a potato-shaped rock about just more than a third of a mile (600 meters) long. It is named after Hideo Itokawa, a Japanese rocket pioneer. NASA, which launched the probe, expects it to provide “a wealth of scientific return.”

Was not this probe some what damaged by the solar flares almost 2 years ago?

SpaceNut · 2005-08-16 11:44:46

more onHayabusa Performes Star Tracker imaging of Asteroid Itokawa

For almost two years and three months after the launch in May of 2003, Hayabusa spacecraft has traveled a long journey by way of Earth gravity assist in May of 2004, and will make a world's first low thrust rendezvous with a near-Earth asteroid Itokawa next month.

SpaceNut · 2005-08-23 06:46:03

Background:

Formerly known as MUSES-C, the Hayabusa craft was launched in May 2003 aboard a solid-fueled M-5 rocket to embark on its journey to visit asteroid 1998 SF36. The asteroid, named Itokawa, is in an orbit that brings it close to Earth and is classified as a near-Earth asteroid, meaning its closest approach to the Sun is inside a point 1.3 times further than Earth's orbit.

Ambitious mission hopes to return bits of asteroid

Slowly pulling alongside a space rock the size of several typical city blocks, a Japanese probe is preparing to begin scooping the first dusty samples of material from the surface of an asteroid this fall for an eventual return to Earth.

Lots of stuff in the article can hardly wait for its sample return reports.

Palomar · 2005-09-06 09:51:51

Now only 475 miles from target

*They're anticipating Hayabusa will soon "get the scoop" in more ways than one. A rather unsung mission with scant media attention which may soon be in THE limelight.

November is when the actual sample-taking process will occur. They're referring to it as the "white-knuckle" portion of the mission.

Also, a bit of info about Minerva:

The spacecraft will also deploy a little robot, about the size of a large beer can, called Minerva, which for a couple of days will "hop" around the asteroid's surface, taking pictures and measuring the temperature.

--Cindy

SpaceNut · 2005-09-06 10:56:00

Yup a little bit of slowing down once near to the target while trying not be a deep impact.

Palomar · 2005-09-07 05:41:13

Hayabusa returns pics of Itokawa

*Obtained September 4.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2005-09-11 18:19:03

Getting closer...closer...

The distance to Itokawa is about 220km and Hayabusa is approaching Itokawa at the speed of about 7 km/h.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2005-09-12 07:20:14

Closing in fast

*On September 7 Hayabusa was 200 km from Itokawa; as of September 12 the distance is a mere 30 km. The image in this article is dated September 10. A "strange" (what qualifies as "strange"?) asteroid with few craters. It looks like a sweet potato. Definitely has "bumps" on it.

Hayabusa is on its own. It's so far distant from us now that

if Hayabusa needed an emergency instruction from Earth, it would not reach the probe in time.

More info about Minerva:

Moving around on wheels works only when gravity is present, so a probe with wheels is of no use on Itokawa. Minerva travels by leaping, using its own momentum by accelerating a weight inside itself. This is an entirely new idea.

Good luck to all aspects of this mission!

--Cindy

JonClarke · 2005-09-12 16:16:55

For near daily updates see this site http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missio … oday.shtml

Hayabusa is now at rest with respect to Itokawa, some 20 km away. It will stay here until November when it begins its approach.

Jon

Palomar · 2005-09-15 05:21:39

Update

*Hayabusa has performed a short chemical-thruster burn which slowed its speed by 7 cm per second. It's begun hovering operations. Is in good health, all instruments functioning normally. It's obtained a series of rotation photos of Itokawa.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2005-09-16 04:59:41

*Another first: Composite color image of Itokawa.

Doesn't have much color. ::shrugs::

--Cindy

Palomar · 2005-09-23 06:27:25

Terrain on Itokawa

*...to be named.

--Cindy

SpaceNut · 2005-10-05 10:40:44

Starting to show its age: Japan's Asteroid Sample-Return Mission Has Problems

Japan’s Hayabusa asteroid sample-return spacecraft has lost the use of a second reaction wheel, forcing increased reliance on its chemical-propellant thrusters for attitude control and raising questions about whether it can make its planned asteroid touchdown in November,
Hayabusa ground controllers must now alter their mission profile to conserve fuel burned by the unanticipated use of the reaction control system.
If the original mission scenario is maintained, Hayabusa in November will perform what ISAS calls “touch and go” maneuvers — briefly landing on the asteroid, scooping up small samples and then taking off — before beginning its return voyage to Earth, with the samples, in December. Its arrival is scheduled for June 2007.

Would be such ashame to run out of fuel before it gets to get the sample..

Palomar · 2005-10-05 10:58:48

Would be such ashame to run out of fuel before it gets to get the sample..

*Yeah...that's a vast understatement.

Article doesn't say anything about the Minerva aspect of the mission. I hope that's not utterly jeopardized.

Time will tell.

--Cindy

Palomar · 2005-10-11 12:02:45

Another Y-axis reaction wheel...

*...not functioning; that particular difficulty occurred on 10/3. Global mapping of Itokawa is nearly complete. Guidance and navigation are being controlled via radio measurements (how does that work?).

Article is scanty. Wish they'd give us more info on how the new Y-axis reaction wheel trouble impacts the mission.

I'm really pulling for this mission. C'mon, Hayabusa -- you can do it!

--Cindy

SpaceNut · 2005-10-11 12:18:32

Info for the Autonomous Navigation

It would seem through the use of its Optical Navigation Camera and a Light Detection for Ranging to the asteriod is how it is accomplished. Of course with the help of some embeded computer software routines.

To this end, Muses-C spacecraft employs an Optical Navigation Camera (ONC), a Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR), a Laser Range Finder (LRF) and Fan Beam Sensors (FBS), whose combined use enables it to safely approach and land on the asteroid. In order to successfully descend on a candidate-landing point, it not only uses an artificial target called Target Marker that is released from the spacecraft to the surface, but also adjusts its position by processing the images sent from the camera and keeping an eye on landmarks.

Palomar · 2005-10-25 11:45:40

Movie

*Of Itokawa making one full rotation. Hayabusa is at the "gate position."

High- and low-resolution options available.

--Cindy

SpaceNut · 2005-10-31 12:24:56

It appears that Japan’s Hayabusa asteroid sample-return satellite is scheduled to make the first of two landings on its target asteroid Nov. 12, a second touchdown would occur Nov. 25 before Hayabusa, begins a return flight to Earth.

If you have been following the thread you will know that Hayabusa lost the use of its first reaction wheel in July. The second failed Oct. 3, forcing increased reliance on the chemical-propellant thrusters to maintain satellite attitude control.

This has caused the project engineers to devise a fuel-conservation plan to maintain Hayabusa stably in position and at the same time provide for the two “touch-and-go” maneuvers during which the satellite will scoop up asteroid samples.

The first will test Hayabusa touchdown maneuvers Nov. 4 which the agency has called a “rehearsal descent.”

Palomar · 2005-11-01 12:29:42

Image of Itokawa's southern hemisphere

*Includes charts (spacecraft position in last half of October) relative to Itokawa. Mentions boulders seen in Muses-Sea; previous observations (apparently at a greater distance) had suggested that area was smooth.

--Cindy

SpaceNut · 2005-11-03 08:06:53

Star map for those that would wish to try and find this asteriod.

Some more great images of the asteriod here as well as a report of crafts functioning status.
[url=http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/snews/2005/1102.shtml]Hayabusa's Scientific and Engineering Achievements
during Proximity Operations around Itokawa[/url]

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#1 2004-06-25 05:24:48

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

#2 2005-06-08 05:54:44

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

#3 2005-06-08 06:06:35

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

#4 2005-06-08 15:42:34

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

#5 2005-08-05 07:48:52

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

#6 2005-08-15 10:33:44

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

#7 2005-08-16 11:44:46

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

#8 2005-08-23 06:46:03

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

#9 2005-09-06 09:51:51

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#10 2005-09-06 10:56:00

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#11 2005-09-07 05:41:13

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#12 2005-09-11 18:19:03

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#13 2005-09-12 07:20:14

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#14 2005-09-12 16:16:55

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#15 2005-09-15 05:21:39

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#16 2005-09-16 04:59:41

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#17 2005-09-23 06:27:25

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#18 2005-10-05 10:40:44

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#19 2005-10-05 10:58:48

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#20 2005-10-11 12:02:45

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#21 2005-10-11 12:18:32

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#22 2005-10-25 11:45:40

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

#23 2005-10-31 12:24:56

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

#24 2005-11-01 12:29:42

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

#25 2005-11-03 08:06:53

Re: Hayabusa - JAXA asteroid rendezvous and sample return

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