Hayabusa2 is a JAXA spacecraft that brought back material from the asteroid Ryugu. Its capsule returned to Earth on December 6, 2020, with about 5.4 grams of samples.
Launched 2014Sample return 2020
はやぶさ２Hayabusa2
Launched
December 3, 2014
Reached Ryugu
June 27, 2018
Capsule landed
December 6, 2020
Samples
about 5.4 g (goal: 0.1 g)
From JAXA.
To Ryugu and back
Hayabusa2 was launched on December 3, 2014. Its target was Ryugu, a C-type asteroid.
It reached Ryugu on June 27, 2018, collected material from its surface, and succeeded in bringing it back to Earth. The capsule landed on December 6, 2020.
5.4 grams
At JAXA’s curation center, the samples were found to weigh about 5.4 grams.
When Hayabusa2 was designed, the goal was 0.1 grams, enough for the first scientific studies. The mission brought back far more than that.
The journey goes on
After delivering the capsule, Hayabusa2 set off on a new journey in deep space, an extended mission using the fuel left in its ion engines.
Its final target is the asteroid 1998 KY26, only about 11 meters across, which spins once every 5 minutes.
Think about it
Q1Why would scientists want material from an asteroid instead of just photos?
Q2The goal was 0.1 grams and the result was 5.4 grams. How many times the goal is that?
Q3What would you want to study if you had a piece of an asteroid?
There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.
Did you know? — The goal was 0.1 grams of samples. Hayabusa2 brought back about 5.4 grams.