Japan's Space Agency Landed Bouncing Rovers on an Asteroid
Update: Success! On Saturday, Japan's space agency, JAXA, tweeted that the twin bouncing rovers had survived their trip to the surface of the asteroid Ryugu, where they are now moving around in big hops.
We are sorry we have kept you waiting! MINERVA-II1 consists of two rovers, 1a & 1b. Both rovers are confirmed to have landed on the surface of Ryugu. They are in good condition and have transmitted photos & data. We also confirmed they are moving on the surface. #asteroidlanding
- HAYABUSA2@JAXA (@haya2e_jaxa) September 22, 2018
This is a picture from MINERVA-II1. The color photo was captured by Rover-1A on September 21 around 13:08 JST, immediately after separation from the spacecraft. Hayabusa2 is top and Ryugu's surface is below. The image is blurred because the rover is spinning. #asteroidlanding pic.twitter.com/CeeI5ZjgmM
- HAYABUSA2@JAXA (@haya2e_jaxa) September 22, 2018
The first views from the rovers are simply stunning.
This dynamic photo was captured by Rover-1A on September 22 at around 11:44 JST. It was taken on Ryugu's surface during a hop. The left-half is the surface of Ryugu, while the white region on the right is due to sunlight. (Hayabusa2 Project) pic.twitter.com/IQLsFd4gJu
- HAYABUSA2@JAXA (@haya2e_jaxa) September 22, 2018
Photo taken by Rover-1B on Sept 21 at ~13:07 JST. It was captured just after separation from the spacecraft. Ryugu's surface is in the lower right. The misty top left region is due to the reflection of sunlight. 1B seems to rotate slowly after separation, minimising image blur. pic.twitter.com/P71gsC9VNI
- HAYABUSA2@JAXA (@haya2e_jaxa) September 22, 2018
Original post, Sept. 20, 2018: This week the Japanese space agency’s asteroid-exploring spacecraft, Hayabusa2, will deploy a pair of rovers to explore the surface of an asteroid. It’s a mission of redemption as much as it is science, because the last time JAXA tried this, the mission ended in failure.
The Hayabusa2 probe left for asteroid Ryugu in December 2014 and is already well into its 1.5-year mission exploring the surface. It will return to Earth in 2020. The spacecraft is armed with a slew of sensors and probes, including a high-power ejector that will shoot a 0.5-gram tantalum bullet into the surface so it can study the ejected material.
Now JAXA is activating MINERVA-II1, a container holding a pair of octagonal, 2.5-pound rovers. (The acronym means “MIcro Nano Experimental Robot Vehicle for Asteroid.”) A few days ago, the JAXA Hayabusa team tweeted: “This week we will deploy the MINERVA-II1 rovers! Tomorrow (Sept 19) is the preparatory operation prior to the descent and on the 20th, the spacecraft will start descending towards Ryugu, The separation of MINERVA-II1 is scheduled for the 21st.”
This week we will deploy the MINERVA-II1 rovers! Tomorrow (Sept 19) is the preparatory operation prior to the descent and on the 20th, the spacecraft will start descending towards Ryugu. The separation of MINERVA-II1 is scheduled for the 21st. (Hayabusa2 Project)
- HAYABUSA2@JAXA (@haya2e_jaxa) September 18, 2018
If you're picture the kind of wheeled rovers that NASA sends to Mars, don't. Asteroids are too small to have much gravity, so these rovers hop around in low gravity to get from place to place. Each probe has four rotating devices inside it. Those devices generate torque that propels the probes as they take 15-minute hops, traveling at about 15 meters per jump. Each rover has two cameras, a thermometer, and an accelerometer. It has optical and ultraviolet LEDs for illumination to measure dust particles.
Asteroid called Itokawa was the site of one of JAXA’s worst moments. On November 12, 2005 controllers on Earth issued the order for Habayusa1, the current probe's predecessor, to release the Minerva payloads. But because of a faulty altitude reading, the probes released while the spacecraft was too high. The Minerva canister flew off into space, the probes tucked inside for all time.
Now it’s time for the sequel. “Preparation for the spacecraft descent will take place today,” JAXA tweeted on Wednesday. “And from tomorrow the descent will begin.”
[MINERVA-II1] September 19 09:00 JST: Operations for the deployment of the MINERVA-II1 rovers begins today! Currently, ground communication is from Usuda. Preparation for the spacecraft descent will take place today, and from tomorrow the descent will begin. (Hayabusa2 Project)
- HAYABUSA2@JAXA (@haya2e_jaxa) September 19, 2018
Those interested in following the action in real time can access the JAXA mission’s webpage, which is updated in real time.
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