November 30, 2005 Updated
Hayabusa's attitude is unstable, restoring operations continue for safe return to earth
The Hayabusa, which successfully carried out a touchdown (landing and sampling) on the morning of the 26th, was autonomously switched to the "safe-hold mode" as its attitude was changed while ascending from the Itokawa. JAXA was able to stop a propellant leakage that is suspected as the cause of shaky attitude. Communications with the explorer were cut on the 27th and 28th, but the beacon line was restored at around 10:00 a.m. on the 29th. Restoring operations continue.Photo: Professor Kawaguchi, Project Manager, at the press conference
November 28, 2005 Updated
880,000 people guided the Hayabusa
Successful touchdown a world first
Just past 7:00 a.m. on the 26th (Japan Standard Time, JST), the second touchdown (landing and sampling) was carried out. The Hayabusa moved as programmed, and its ascending attitude after the touchdown was also stable. At 7:07 a.m. (JST) the sampler horn detected that its tip was deformed due to touching the Itokawa surface. Landing and sampling were then confirmed.
JAXA would like to extend our profound appreciation to all parties concerned for their support with this experiment.
The Hayabusa was autonomously switched to the "safe-hold mode" as it detected its attitude change.
"The Hayabusa may face more difficulties on its way back to earth, but we should renew our determination and do our utmost to complete this challenging mission successfully," said President Keiji Tachikawa of JAXA.
Photo: A target marker (with 880,000 signatures) released on the 20th and the shadow of the Hayabusa. The photo was taken while the explorer was descending.
November 26, 2005 Updated
Hayabusa is now ascending and Usuda Station is receiving data
The Hayabusa had been descending toward the surface of the Itokawa since the evening of the 25th (Japan Standard Time, JST).A final "Go" command for landing (touchdown) was issued at 6:20 a.m. today (JST), and the explorer made its final descent.
At 7:20 a.m. (JST) the Hayabusa started to ascend, and JAXA is now receiving data through the Usuda Station and will analyze it.
Photo: The Itokawa taken at 4:49 a.m. The shadow of the Hayabusa started to emerge.
November 25, 2005 Updated
Approaching the Itokawa again for another touchdown attempt (sampling)
The Hayabusa, which became "the first explorer that took off from another astronomical body outside the geosphere (Earth zone)" (Professor Junichiro Kawaguchi, Project Manager), is now approaching the Itokawa again to carry out a second touchdown for sampling. Learning from the last experience, we will start operations (receiving data and sending commands) through a NASA station on the night of the 24th (Japan Standard Time, JST) while carefully checking the impact on the onboard sensors. We are aiming at performing landing and sampling at 7:00 a.m. on the 26th (JST). Photo:Target marker with signatures (image taken at the altitude of 32 meters)
November 24, 2005 Updated
Touchdown was successful
Hayabusa became the world's first explorer to land on and take off from an asteroid
Data has shown that the Hayabusa bounced twice on the Itokawa, landed and stayed there for about 30 minutes before taking off following a command from the Earth.The above details of the first touchdown (landing and sampling) on the early morning of the 20th were clarified by analyzing data acquired from the Hayabusa after recovering its attitude from the "safe-hold mode." The Hayabusa is the world? first asteroid explorer to function properly after landing on an asteroid and taking off. Unfortunately, sampling was not carried out, but the explorer is currently approaching the Itokawa again, and JAXA is studying the possibility of a second touchdown. We will inform you more once the schedule is determined.
Photo:Target marker with signatures (image taken at the altitude of 32 meters)
November 20, 2005 Updated
Ready for another landing attempt after clarifying status of landing and sampling held on morning of the 20th
The Hayabusa, which successfully released its target marker covered with 880,000 signatures on the Itokawa from a height of 40 meters, shifted its attitude to "safe-hold mode" for an unknown reason when it approached the asteroid. We have to recover the attitude of the Hayabusa and make its high-gain antenna turn toward the earth to acquire more detailed data from the onboard equipment so that we can find out if the touchdown on the morning of the 20th was successful or not.
We will keep operating the Hayabusa to be ready for the next attempt.
Photo:Professor Junichi Kawaguchi, Project Manager, at a press conference
November 20, 2005 Updated
Target marker successfully released
At 5:46 a.m. on the 20th (Japan Standard Time), JAXA received a signal from the asteroid explorer Hayabusa, which started descending toward the asteroid Itokawa on the night of the 19th for landing and sampling. The Hayabusa successfully released its target marker. The altitude of the Hayabusa at that time was about 40 meters, thus we are almost certain that the target marker reached the surface of the Itokawa.We are now gathering data from the Hayabusa and will provide more details about the touchdown.
Photo:An Itokawa's image captured at 4:58 JST.
November 18, 2005 Updated
First challenge of landing and sampling is early on the 20th morning
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Photo: Muses Sea, the scheduled site for the sampling.
November 17, 2005 Updated
Cryogenic test completed for the H-IIA Launch Vehicle Flight No. 8
On the 17th, a cryogenic test on the H-IIA Launch Vehicle Flight No. 8 was held to verify functions of the launch vehicle and ground support equipment. The photo was taken by the live camera at Tanegashima yesterday.
November 14, 2005 Updated
Hayabusa was about 55 meters from the Itokawa during the rescheduled rehearsal for descending
Successfully verified the function of the Laser Ranging Finder (LRF)
On the 12th, the rescheduled descending rehearsal for the Hayabusa was carried out for the functional verification of onboard equipment, the Laser Ranging Finder (LRF). During the rehearsal, the Hayabusa went as close as about 55 meters from the Itokawa. The function of the LRF was successfully verified, and the Hayabusa will perform the first sampling on the 19th. The separation of the probing robot, Minerva, released during the rehearsal, was confirmed, and communications have been maintained with it, although its current status is still unknown. We will inform you as soon as we have more details.(Completed) Nov. 12: Rescheduled rehearsal for descending (Releasing a probing robot "Minerva")
Nov. 19: First sampling (Releasing a target marker with signatures)
Nov. 25: Second sampling
Photo: The Itokawa shot at 1:40 p.m. (Japan Standard Time) today. You can see the shadow of the Hayabusa.
November 11, 2005 Updated
Hayabusa approached within 70 meters of Itokawa
On Nov. 9, the Hayabusa moved within 70 meters of the Itokawa during a descending test that aimed to verify the guidance and navigation functions.The cause of an anomaly that led to the cancellation of the rehearsal scheduled on Nov. 4 was clarified, thus we will carry out its landing at the "MUSES Sea" and sampling under the following schedule.
Nov. 12: Rescheduled rehearsal for descending (Release the probing robot "Minerva")
Nov. 19: First sampling (Release the target marker with signatures)
Nov. 25: Second sampling
Photo: The shade of the Hayabusa on the Itokawa.
November 7, 2005 Updated
November 4th descent aborted
Due to a detection of anomalous signal at GO/NOGO decision, today's descent, including release of MINERVA and the target marker has been canceled. Distance from Itokawa to Hayabusa on November 6th is 9.6km.The spacecraft once ascended to a high altitude position.
Now traveling to the initial point of the Home Position box.
This is an image of Itokawa obtained at around 11:40 am(JST) on November 4th.
- Today's HAYABUSA
November 4, 2005 Updated
Hayabusa descending to the Itokawa
The asteroid explorer "Hayabusa" started to descend to the Itokawa at 4:00 a.m. on the 4th (Japan Standard Time, JST) as a rehearsal for the sampling scheduled later. During the descent, the Hayabusa will release its probing robot, Minerva, and a target marker with 880,000 names on it.The distance between Hayabusa and Itokawa is now approximately 1 kilometer. (10:50 am JST)
- Today's HAYABUSA
November 2, 2005 Updated
Hayabusa's Scientific and Engineering Achievements during Proximity Operations around Itokawa
Hayabusa arrived at its exploration target, near Earth asteroid Itokawa, on September 12th of this year after having been propelled there via ion engines and an Earth swing-by. Since then, it has successfully performed orbital maneuvers, precisely keeping its position relative to Itokawa. - ISAS space news
Hayabusa's Scientific and Engineering Achievements during Proximity Operations around Itokawa
- Today's HAYABUSA