Hayabusa2

File:Mission overview of Hayabusa2 and MASCOT.webm

File:.Animation of Hayabusa2 orbit.gif}} {{legend2|royalblue|Earth}} {{legend2|yellow|Sun}}
See detailed video including the extended mission]]

Asteroid 162173 Ryugu (formerly designated {{mp|1999 JU|3}}) is a primitive carbonaceous near-Earth asteroid. Carbonaceous asteroids are thought to preserve the most pristine, untainted materials in the Solar System, a mixture of minerals, ice, and organic compounds that interact with each other.{{cite journal | doi=10.2343/geochemj.2.0350 | title=Hayabusa2: Scientific importance of samples returned from C-type near-Earth asteroid (162173) 1999 JU3 | year=2014 | last1=Tachibana | first1=S. | last2=Abe | first2=M. | last3=Arakawa | first3=M. | last4=Fujimoto | first4=M. | last5=Iijima | first5=Y. | last6=Ishiguro | first6=M. | last7=Kitazato | first7=K. | last8=Kobayashi | first8=N. | last9=Namiki | first9=N. | last10=Okada | first10=T. | last11=Okazaki | first11=R. | last12=Sawada | first12=H. | last13=Sugita | first13=S. | last14=Takano | first14=Y. | last15=Tanaka | first15=S. | last16=Watanabe | first16=S. | last17=Yoshikawa | first17=M. | last18=Kuninaka | first18=H. | journal=Geochemical Journal | volume=48 | issue=6 | pages=571–587 | bibcode=2014GeocJ..48..571T | doi-access=free }} Studying it is expected to provide additional knowledge on the origin and evolution of the inner planets and, in particular, the origin of water and organic compounds on Earth,{{cite journal|author=Yuichi Tsuda|author2=Makoto Yoshikawa|author3=Masanao Abe|author4=Hiroyuki Minamino|author5=Satoru Nakazawa|title=System design of the Hayabusa 2 – Asteroid sample return mission to 1999 JU3|doi=10.1016/j.actaastro.2013.06.028|journal=Acta Astronautica|volume=91|date=October–November 2013|pages=356–362|bibcode=2013AcAau..91..356T}} all relevant to the origin of life on Earth.{{Cite magazine |last=Zukerman |first=Wendy |date=18 August 2010 |title=Hayabusa 2 will seek the origins of life in space |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19332-hayabusa-2-will-seek-the-origins-of-life-in-space/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024061100/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19332-hayabusa-2-will-seek-the-origins-of-life-in-space/ |archive-date=24 October 2023 |magazine=New Scientist |issn=0262-4079 }}

Initially, launch was planned for 30 November 2014,{{Cite web |date=21 May 2014 |title=JAXA Report on Hayabusa2 |url=http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2014/06/04/NAC-PPS-Yano-140521c-11.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195136/http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2014/06/04/NAC-PPS-Yano-140521c-11.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |publisher=JAXA }}{{cite journal|last=Vilas |first=Faith|date=25 February 2008|title=Spectral characteristics of Hayabusa 2 near-Earth asteroid targets 162173 1999 JU3 AND 2001 QC34|journal=The Astronomical Journal|volume=135|page=1101|doi=10.1088/0004-6256/135/4/1101|quote=target for the planned Japanese mission Hayabusa2|bibcode=2008AJ....135.1101V|issue=4|doi-access=free}}{{cite conference |url=https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/j/researchers/symp/sss11/paper/S3-04_20110209174216.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123202307/https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/j/researchers/symp/sss11/paper/S3-04_20110209174216.pdf |archive-date=23 January 2024 |url-status=live |script-title=ja:小惑星探査ミッション「はやぶさ2|language=ja|trans-title=Asteroid Exploration Mission "Hayabusa2"|first=Makoto |last=Yoshikawa |date=6 January 2011 |conference=11th Symposium on Space Science|access-date=20 February 2011 }} but was delayed to 3 December 2014 at 04:22:04 UTC (3 December 2014, 13:22:04 local time) on a H-IIA launch vehicle.{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=3 December 2014 |title=Hayabusa2 launches on audacious asteroid adventure |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2014/12/03/hayabusa-2-launches-on-audacious-asteroid-adventure/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014085158/https://spaceflightnow.com/2014/12/03/hayabusa-2-launches-on-audacious-asteroid-adventure/ |archive-date=14 October 2023 |access-date=3 December 2014 |work=Spaceflight Now }} Hayabusa2 launched together with PROCYON asteroid flyby space probe. PROCYON's mission was a failure. Hayabusa2 arrived at Ryugu on 27 June 2018, where it surveyed the asteroid for a year and a half and collected samples. It departed the asteroid in November 2019 and returned the samples to Earth in December 2020.

Compared to the previous Hayabusa mission, the spacecraft features improved ion engines, guidance and navigation technology, antennas, and attitude control systems. A kinetic penetrator (a high-explosive shaped charge) was shot into the asteroid surface to expose pristine sample material which was later collected for return to Earth.

Following the initial success of Hayabusa, JAXA began studying a potential successor mission in 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.jaxa.jp/article/interview/vol27/p3_e.html|author=Keiji Tachikawa|title=The President's New Year Interview|date=2007|website=jaxa.jp|publisher=JAXA|access-date=28 April 2007|archive-date=5 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205072752/http://www.jaxa.jp/article/interview/vol27/p3_e.html|url-status=dead}} In July 2009, Makoto Yoshikawa of JAXA presented a proposal titled "Hayabusa Follow-on Asteroid Sample Return Missions". In August 2010, JAXA obtained approval from the Japanese government to begin development of Hayabusa2. The cost of the project estimated in 2010 was 16.4 billion yen (US${{format price|{{To USD|16400000000|JPN|round=-5}}}}).{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=11 August 2010 |title=Asteroid probe, rocket get nod from Japanese panel |url=https://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1008/11japan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112145547/https://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1008/11japan/ |archive-date=12 January 2024 |access-date=29 October 2012 |work=Spaceflight Now }}

Hayabusa2 was launched on 3 December 2014, arrived at asteroid Ryugu on 27 June 2018, and remained stationary at a distance of about {{cvt|20|km}} to study and map the asteroid. In the week of 16 July 2018, commands were sent to move to a lower hovering altitude.{{Cite web |date=25 July 2018 |title=Imaging Ryugu from an altitude of 6km |url=https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/hayabusa2/topics.html#topics12394 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028163015/https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/hayabusa2/topics.html#topics12394 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |publisher=JAXA }}

On 21 September 2018, the Hayabusa2 spacecraft ejected the first two rovers, Rover-1A (HIBOU)"hibou" is not Japanese nor abbreviation; it is the French word for owl and pronounced as such, イブー (i-boo). and Rover-1B (OWL), from about a {{cvt|55|m}} altitude that dropped independently to the surface of the asteroid.[https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-45578795 Hayabusa-2: Japan's rovers ready for touchdown on asteroid], Paul Rincon, BBC News 20 September 2018{{cite web|title=Japanese Probe Drops Tiny Hopping Robots Toward Big Asteroid Ryugu|url=https://www.space.com/41898-hayabusa2-deploys-hopping-robots-asteroid-ryugu.html|publisher=Space.com|date=21 September 2018}} They functioned nominally and transmitted data. The MASCOT rover deployed successfully on 3 October 2018 and operated for about 16 hours as planned.[https://www.dlr.de/dlr/presse/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10172/213_read-30118/year-all/#/gallery/32227 MASCOT lands safely on asteroid Ryugu], Press release, DLR Press Portal, 3 October 2018

The first sample collection was scheduled to start in late October 2018, but the rovers encountered a landscape with large and small boulders but no surface soil for sampling. Therefore, it was decided to postpone the sample collection plans to 2019 and further evaluate various options for the landing.{{Cite news |last=Otsuka |first=Minoru |date=9 January 2019 |title=はやぶさ2のタッチダウン候補地は2カ所に、どちらが最適？ |trans-title=Hayabusa2's touchdown candidate sites narrowed down to two, which is the most optimal? |url=https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20190109-753844/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028170946/https://news.mynavi.jp/techplus/article/20190109-753844/ |archive-date=28 October 2023 |access-date=9 January 2019 |language=ja |newspaper=Mynavi news }} The first surface sample retrieval took place on 21 February 2019. On 5 April 2019, Hayabusa2 released an impactor to create an artificial crater on the asteroid surface. However, Hayabusa2 initially failed on 14 May 2019 to drop special reflective markers necessary onto the surface for guiding the descent and sampling processes, but later it successfully dropped one from an altitude of {{cvt|9|m}} on 4 June 2019.[Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft grabs epic close-up shot just 30 feet above asteroid], Jackson Ryan, C-net, 5 June 2019 The sub-surface sampling took place on 11 July 2019.{{cite web|first=Kyoko|last=Hasegawa|url=https://phys.org/news/2019-07-japan-hayabusa2-probe-touchdown-asteroid.html|title=Japan's Hayabusa2 probe makes "perfect" touchdown on asteroid |website=phys.org|date=11 July 2019}} The spacecraft departed the asteroid on 13 November 2019 (with departure command sent at 01:05 UTC on 13 November 2019). It successfully delivered the samples back to Earth on 6 December 2020 (JST), dropping the contents by parachute in a special container at a location in southern Australia. The samples were retrieved the same day for secure transport back to the JAXA labs in Japan.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55201662 Hayabusa-2 capsule located in Australian desert][http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/why-sample-return.html What's the benefit of sample-return?]

The design of Hayabusa2 is based on the first Hayabusa spacecraft, with some improvements.[http://www.hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en/enjoy/material/factsheet/FactSheet_en_v2.31s.pdf Hayabusa2 Information Fact Sheet] JAXA 29 July 2018 It has a mass of {{convert|600|kg}} including fuel, and electric power is generated by two sets of solar arrays with an output of 2.6 kW at 1 AU, and 1.4 kW at 1.4 AU. The power is stored in eleven inline-mounted 13.2 Ah lithium-ion batteries.

;Propulsion

The spacecraft features four solar-electric ion thrusters for propulsion called μ10, one of which is a backup. These engines use microwaves to convert xenon into plasma (ions), which are accelerated by a voltage applied by the solar panels and ejected out the back of the engine. The simultaneous operation of three engines generates thrusts of up to 28 mN. Although this thrust is very small, the engines are also extremely efficient; the {{cvt|66|kg}} of xenon reaction mass can change the speed of the spacecraft by up to 2 km/s.

The spacecraft has four redundant reaction wheels and a chemical reaction control system featuring twelve thrusters for attitude control (orientation) and orbital control at the asteroid. The chemical thrusters use hydrazine and MON-3, with a total mass of {{cvt|48|kg}} of chemical propellant.

;Communication

The primary contractor NEC built the {{cvt|590|kg}} spacecraft, its Ka-band communications system and a mid-infrared camera.{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=29 January 2012 |title=Japan's next asteroid probe approved for development |url=https://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1201/29hayabusa2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029152402/https://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1201/29hayabusa2/ |archive-date=29 October 2023 |access-date=29 October 2012 }} The spacecraft has two high-gain directional antennas for X-band and K_a-band. Bit rates are 8 bit/s to 32 kbit/s. The ground stations are the Usuda Deep Space Center, Uchinoura Space Center, NASA Deep Space Network and Malargüe Station (ESA).

;Navigation

The optical navigation camera telescope (ONC-T) is a telescopic framing camera with seven colors to optically navigate the spacecraft.{{cite journal | doi=10.1007/s11214-015-0227-y | title=Preflight Calibration Test Results for Optical Navigation Camera Telescope (ONC-T) Onboard the Hayabusa2 Spacecraft | year=2017 | last1=Kameda | first1=S. | last2=Suzuki | first2=H. | last3=Takamatsu | first3=T. | last4=Cho | first4=Y. | last5=Yasuda | first5=T. | last6=Yamada | first6=M. | last7=Sawada | first7=H. | last8=Honda | first8=R. | last9=Morota | first9=T. | last10=Honda | first10=C. | last11=Sato | first11=M. | last12=Okumura | first12=Y. | last13=Shibasaki | first13=K. | last14=Ikezawa | first14=S. | last15=Sugita | first15=S. | journal=Space Science Reviews | volume=208 | issue=1–4 | pages=17–31 | bibcode=2017SSRv..208...17K | s2cid=255069232 }} It works in synergy with the optical navigation camera wide-field (ONC-W2) and with two star trackers.

In order to descend to the asteroid surface to perform sampling, the spacecraft released one of five target markers in the selected landing zones as artificial guide marks, with highly reflective outer material that is recognized by a strobe light mounted on the spacecraft. The spacecraft also used its laser altimeter and ranging (LIDAR) as well as Ground Control Point Navigation (GCP-NAV) sensors during sampling.

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft was the first to deploy operating rovers on an asteroid.

File:20190605 hayabusa-diagram-tpr-01.png

The Hayabusa2 payload is equipped with multiple scientific instruments:{{Cite web |date=14 June 2018 |title=Current status of the asteroid explorer, Hayabusa2, leading up to arrival at asteroid Ryugu in 2018 |url=https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/hayabusa2/pdf/Hayabusa2_Press20180614e.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028170603/https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/hayabusa2/pdf/Hayabusa2_Press20180614e.pdf |archive-date=28 October 2023 |access-date=20 June 2018 |publisher=JAXA }}

• Remote sensing: Optical Navigation Camera (ONC-T, ONC-W1, ONC-W2), Near-Infrared Camera (NIR3), Thermal-Infrared Camera (TIR), Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR)
• Sampling: Sampling device (SMP), Small Carry-on Impactor (SCI), Deployable Camera (DCAM3)
• Four rovers: Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT), Rover-1A, Rover-1B, Rover-2.

The Optical Navigation Cameras (ONCs) were used for spacecraft navigation during the asteroid approach and proximity operations. They also remotely imaged the surface to search for interplanetary dust around the asteroid. ONC-T is a telephoto camera with a 6.35° × 6.35° field of view and several optical filters carried in a carousel. ONC-W1 and ONC-W2 are wide angle (65.24° × 65.24°) panchromatic (485–655 nm) cameras with nadir and oblique views, respectively.

The Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) is a spectrograph operating at a wavelength of 1.8–3.2 μm. NIRS3 was used for analysis of surface mineral composition.

The Thermal-Infrared Imager (TIR) is a thermal infrared camera working at 8–12 μm, using a two-dimensional microbolometer array. Its spatial resolution is 20 m at 20 km distance or 5 cm at 50 m distance (70 ft at 12 mi, or 2 in at 160 ft). It was used to determine surface temperatures in the range {{cvt|-40|to|150|°C}}.

The Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) instrument measured the distance from the spacecraft to the asteroid surface by measuring the reflected laser light. It operated over an altitude range between 30 m and 25 km (100 ft and 16 mi).

When the spacecraft was closer to the surface than {{cvt|30|m}} during the sampling operation, the Laser Range Finders (LRF-S1, LRF-S3) were used to measure the distance and the attitude (orientation) of the spacecraft relative to the terrain.{{Cite journal |last1=Terui |first1=Fuyuto |last2=Tsuda |first2=Yuichi |last3=Ogawa |first3=Naoko |last4=Mimasu |first4=Yuya |date=July 2014 |script-title=ja:小惑星探査機「はやぶさ2」の航法誘導制御における自動・自律機 |trans-title=Autonomy for Guidance, Navigation and Control of Hayabusa2 |url=https://jaxa.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/22515/files/PA1510013000.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Artificial Intelligence |language=ja |publisher=JAXA |volume=29 |issue=4 |issn=2188-2266 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124133610/https://jaxa.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/22515/files/PA1510013000.pdf |archive-date=24 January 2024 |access-date=9 July 2018 }}{{Cite web |last1=Yoshikawa |first1=Makoto |date=16 January 2012 |script-title=ja:はやぶさ２プロジェクトについて |trans-title=About the Hayabusa2 Project |url=https://www.mext.go.jp/component/b_menu/shingi/toushin/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2012/02/13/1316064_02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102104355/https://www.mext.go.jp/component/b_menu/shingi/toushin/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2012/02/13/1316064_02.pdf |archive-date=2 November 2023 |access-date=9 July 2018 |language=ja }} The LRF-S2 monitored the sampling horn to trigger the sampling projectile.

LIDAR and ONC data are being combined to determine the detailed topography (dimensions and shape) of the asteroid. Monitoring of a radio signal from Earth allowed measurement of the asteroid's gravitational field.

Hayabusa2 carried four small rovers to explore the asteroid surface in situ,{{Cite news |last=Keane |first=Phillip |date=21 June 2018 |title=A detailed look at Japan's Hayabusa2 asteroid exploration mission |url=https://www.spacetechasia.com/a-detailed-look-at-japans-hayabusa2-asteroid-exploration-mission/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101170833/https://www.spacetechasia.com/a-detailed-look-at-japans-hayabusa2-asteroid-exploration-mission/ |archive-date=1 November 2023 |work=SpaceTech Asia }} and provide context information for the returned samples. Due to the minimal gravity of the asteroid, all four rovers were designed to move around by short hops instead of using normal wheels. They were deployed at different dates from about {{cvt|60|m}} altitude and fell freely to the surface under the asteroid's weak gravity.{{cite journal|title=Thermal Infrared Imaging Experiments of C-Type Asteroid 162173 Ryugu on Hayabusa2|first1=Tatsuaki|last1=Okada|first2=Tetsuya|last2=Fukuhara |first3=Satoshi|last3=Tanaka|first4=Makoto|last4=Taguchi|first5=Takeshi|last5=Imamura|first6=Takehiko|last6=Arai|first7=Hiroki|last7=Senshu|first8=Yoshiko|last8=Ogawa|first9=Hirohide|last9=Demura|first10=Kohei |last10=Kitazato|first11=Ryosuke|last11=Nakamura|first12=Toru|last12=Kouyama|first13=Tomohiko|last13=Sekiguchi|first14=Sunao|last14=Hasegawa|first15=Tsuneo|last15=Matsunaga|journal=Space Science Reviews |volume=208|issue=1–4|pages=255–286|date=July 2017|bibcode=2017SSRv..208..255O|doi=10.1007/s11214-016-0286-8|doi-access=free|hdl=1893/26994|hdl-access=free}} The first two rovers, called HIBOU (previously Rover-1A) and OWL (previously Rover-1B), landed on asteroid Ryugu on 21 September 2018.{{Cite news |last=Bartels |first=Meghaan |date=22 September 2018 |title=They Made It! Japan's Two Hopping Rovers Successfully Land on Asteroid Ryugu |url=https://www.space.com/41912-japanese-hopping-rovers-land-on-asteroid.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025102622/https://www.space.com/41912-japanese-hopping-rovers-land-on-asteroid.html |archive-date=25 October 2023 |work=Space.com }} The third rover, called MASCOT, was deployed 3 October 2018. Its mission was successful.{{Cite web |last=Lakdawalla |first=Emily |date=5 October 2018 |title=MASCOT landing on Ryugu a success |url=https://www.planetary.org/articles/mascot-landing-on-ryugu-successful |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024063432/https://www.planetary.org/articles/mascot-landing-on-ryugu-successful |archive-date=24 October 2023 |publisher=The Planetary Society }} The fourth rover, known as Rover-2 or MINERVA-II-2, failed before release from the orbiter. It was released on 2 October 2019 to orbit the asteroid and perform gravitational measurements before being allowed to impact the asteroid a few days later.

{{Main|MINERVA-II}}

File:Surface of Ryugu from MINERVA-II1 Rover-1A.jpg

MINERVA-II is a successor to the MINERVA lander carried by Hayabusa. It consists of two containers with 3 rovers.

MINERVA-II-1 is a container that deployed two rovers, Rover-1A (HIBOU) and Rover-1B (OWL), on 21 September 2018.{{Cite web |last1=Yoshimitsu |first1=Tetsuo |last2=Kubota |first2=Takashi |last3=Tsuda |first3=Yuichi |last4=Yoshikawa |first4=Makoto |date=23 September 2018 |title=MINERVA-II1: Successful image capture, landing on Ryugu and hop! |url=https://www.hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en/topics/20180922e/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929092912/https://www.hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en/topics/20180922e/ |archive-date=29 September 2023 |access-date=24 September 2018 |website=JAXA Hayabusa2 Project |publisher=JAXA }}{{Cite web |date=13 December 2018 |title=Naming our MINERVA-II1 rovers |url=http://www.hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en/topics/20181213e_MNRV-II1/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815220553/https://www.hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en/topics/20181213e_MNRV-II1/ |archive-date=15 August 2023 |publisher=JAXA }} It was developed by JAXA and the University of Aizu. The rovers are identical having a cylindrical shape, {{cvt|18|cm}} diameter and {{cvt|7|cm}} tall, and a mass of {{cvt|1.1|kg}} each.{{Cite news |last=Ōtsuka |first=Minoru |date=28 March 2016 |script-title=ja:車輪なしでどうやって移動する？ローバー「ミネルバ2」の仕組み（後編） |trans-title=How Does It Move Without Wheels? The Mechanism of the Rover 'MINERVA-II' (Part 2) |url=http://monoist.atmarkit.co.jp/mn/articles/1603/28/news015.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213001614/https://monoist.itmedia.co.jp/mn/articles/1603/28/news015.html |archive-date=13 December 2023 |access-date=22 June 2018 |work=MONOist |language=ja }} They move by hopping in the low gravitational field, using a torque generated by rotating masses within the rovers.{{cite report|title=Advanced robotic system of hopping rovers for small solar system bodies|first1=Tetsuo|last1=Yoshimitsu|first2=Takashi|last2=Kubota|first3=Tadashi|last3=Adachi|first4=Yoji|last4=Kuroda|s2cid=16105096|year=2012 |url=https://robotics.estec.esa.int/i-SAIRAS/isairas2012/Papers/Session%206A/06A_01_yoshimitsu.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418232709/http://robotics.estec.esa.int/i-SAIRAS/isairas2012/Papers/Session%206A/06A_01_yoshimitsu.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-18 |url-status=live }} Their scientific payload is a stereo camera, wide-angle camera, and thermometers. Solar cells and double-layer capacitors provide the electrical power.{{cite web |url=https://www.hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en/enjoy/material/press/Hayabusa2_Press20181213_verK_EN2.pdf|publisher=JAXA|title=Asteroid explorer, Hayabusa2 press conference|page=21}} The MINERVA-II-1 rovers were successfully deployed 21 September 2018. Both rovers performed successfully on the asteroid surface, sending images and video from the surface. Rover-1A operated for 113 asteroid days (36 Earth days) returning 609 images from the surface, and Rover-1B operated for 10 asteroid days (3 Earth days) returning 39 images from the surface.

The MINERVA-II-2 container held the ROVER-2 (sometimes referred to as MINERVA-II-2), developed by a consortium of universities led by Tohoku University in Japan. This was an octagonal prism shape, {{cvt|15|cm}} diameter and {{cvt|16|cm}} tall, with a mass of about {{cvt|1|kg}}. It had two cameras, a thermometer and an accelerometer. It was equipped with optical and ultraviolet LEDs to illuminate and detect floating dust particles. ROVER-2 carried four mechanisms to move around using short hops.{{Cite web |date=14 May 2020 |title=Display: Hayabusa2 2014-076A |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2014-076A |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608224344/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2014-076A |archive-date=8 June 2023 |access-date=27 January 2021 |publisher=NASA |id=2014-076A }} {{PD-notice}} Rover-2 had problems prior to deployment from the orbiter but was released on 2 October 2019 to orbit the asteroid and perform gravitational measurements. It was then crashed onto the asteroid surface a few days later on 8 October 2019.

{{redirect|MASCOT||Mascot (disambiguation)}}

File:SPB MASCOT 08 HiRes-cropped.jpg

The Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) was developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in cooperation with the French space agency CNES.{{Cite web |last=Ho |first=Tra-Mi |title=MASCOT – Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout |url=http://www.dlr.de/irs/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-7902/13482_read-34316 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115020544/http://www.dlr.de/irs/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-7902/13482_read-34316 |archive-date=15 November 2012 |publisher=German Aerospace Center }} Its dimensions measure {{cvt|29.5|×|27.5|×|19.5|cm}} and it weighs {{cvt|9.6|kg}}.{{Cite web |title=Hayabusa2/MASCOT at a glance – Technical specifications and mission timeline |url=https://www.dlr.de/dlr/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10977/1757_read-24573/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622111523/https://www.dlr.de/dlr/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10977/1757_read-24573/ |archive-date=22 June 2018 |access-date=22 June 2018 |publisher=German Aerospace Center }} MASCOT carries four instruments: an infrared spectrometer (MicrOmega), a magnetometer (MASMAG), a radiometer (MARA), and a camera (MASCAM) that imaged the small-scale structure, distribution and texture of the regolith.{{Cite journal |last1=Jaumann |first1=R. |last2=Bibring |first2=J. P. |last3=Glassmeier |first3=K. H. |last4=Grott |first4=M. |last5=Ho |first5=T.-M. |last6=Ulamec |first6=S. |last7=Schmitz |first7=N. |last8=Auster |first8=H.-U. |last9=Herčik |first9=D. |last10=Biele |first10=J. |last11=Krause |first11=C. |last12=Kuninaka |first12=H. |last13=Okada |first13=T. |last14=Yoshikawa |first14=M. |last15=Watanabe |first15=S. |last16=Fujimoto |first16=M. |last17=Pilogret |first17=C. |last18=Hamm |first18=V. |last19=Koncz |first19=A. |last20=Spohn |first20=T. |year=2017 |title=A Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) for the Hayabuse 2 Mision to Ryugu |url=https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2017/EPSC2017-548.pdf |url-status=live |journal=EPSC Abstracts |volume=11 |id=EPSC2017-548 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024065057/https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2017/EPSC2017-548.pdf |archive-date=24 October 2023 }} The rover is capable of tumbling once to reposition itself for further measurements.{{cite news|last1=Graham|first1=William|title=Japanese H-IIA kicks off Hayabusa2's asteroid mission |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/12/japanese-h-iia-rocket-hayabusa-2s-asteroid-mission/|access-date=4 December 2014|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=2 December 2014}} It collected data on the surface structure and mineralogical composition, the thermal behaviour and the magnetic properties of the asteroid.{{cite journal | doi=10.1007/s11214-016-0251-6 | title=MASCOT—The Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout Onboard the Hayabusa2 Mission | year=2017 | last1=Ho | first1=Tra-Mi | last2=Baturkin | first2=Volodymyr | last3=Grimm | first3=Christian | last4=Grundmann | first4=Jan Thimo | last5=Hobbie | first5=Catherin | last6=Ksenik | first6=Eugen | last7=Lange | first7=Caroline | last8=Sasaki | first8=Kaname | last9=Schlotterer | first9=Markus | last10=Talapina | first10=Maria | last11=Termtanasombat | first11=Nawarat | last12=Wejmo | first12=Elisabet | last13=Witte | first13=Lars | last14=Wrasmann | first14=Michael | last15=Wübbels | first15=Guido | last16=Rößler | first16=Johannes | last17=Ziach | first17=Christian | last18=Findlay | first18=Ross | last19=Biele | first19=Jens | last20=Krause | first20=Christian | last21=Ulamec | first21=Stephan | last22=Lange | first22=Michael | last23=Mierheim | first23=Olaf | last24=Lichtenheldt | first24=Roy | last25=Maier | first25=Maximilian | last26=Reill | first26=Josef | last27=Sedlmayr | first27=Hans-Jürgen | last28=Bousquet | first28=Pierre | last29=Bellion | first29=Anthony | last30=Bompis | first30=Olivier | journal=Space Science Reviews | volume=208 | issue=1–4 | pages=339–374 | bibcode=2017SSRv..208..339H | s2cid=255067977 | display-authors=1 }} It has a non-rechargeable battery that allowed for operations for approximately 16 hours. The infrared radiometer on the InSight Mars lander, launched in 2018, is based on the MASCOT radiometer.[https://sites.nationalacademies.org/cs/groups/ssbsite/documents/webpage/ssb_086912.pdf InSight: A Geophysical Mission to a Terrestrial Planet Interior], Bruce Banerdt, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, 7 March 2013 {{PD-notice}}{{cite journal|title=The MASCOT Radiometer MARA for the Hayabusa 2 Mission|first1=M.|last1=Grott|first2=J.|last2=Knollenberg|first3=B. |last3=Borgs|first4=F.|last4=Hänschke|first5=E.|last5=Kessler|first6=J.|last6=Helbert|first7=A.|last7=Maturilli|first8=N.|last8=Müller|date=1 August 2016|journal=Space Science Reviews|volume=208|issue=1–4 |pages=413–431|doi=10.1007/s11214-016-0272-1|bibcode=2017SSRv..208..413G|s2cid=118245538}}

MASCOT was deployed on 3 October 2018, with a successful landing and ensuing surface mission. Two papers were published describing the results from MASCOT in the scientific journals Nature Astronomy{{cite journal|last1=Yada |first1=T. |last2=Abe |first2=M. |last3=Okada|first3=T. |display-authors=etal |title=Preliminary analysis of the Hayabusa2 samples returned from C-type asteroid Ryugu |journal=Nat Astron |volume=6 |pages=214–220 |year=2022|issue=2 |doi=10.1038/s41550-021-01550-6 |s2cid=245366019 |doi-access=free }} and Science.{{cite journal|title=Images from the surface of asteroid Ryugu show rocks similar to carbonaceous chondrite meteorites |first1=R. |last1=Jaumann |first2=N. |last2=Schmitz |first3=T.-M. |last3=Ho |first4= S. E. |last4=SchroderÖ |first5= K. A. |last5=Otto |first6= K. |last6=Stephan |first7= S. |last7=Elgner |first8=K. |last8=Krohn |first9=F.|last9=Preusker|first10= T.|last10=Kouyam |journal=Science|date=23 August 2019 |volume=365 |number=6455 |pages=817–820 |doi=10.1126/science.aaw8627 |pmid=31439797 |bibcode=2019Sci...365..817J |s2cid=201616571 |doi-access=free }} One finding of the research was that C-type asteroids consist of more porous material than previously thought, explaining a deficit of this meteorite type. Meteorites of this type are too porous to survive the entry into the atmosphere of planet Earth. Another finding was that Ryugu consists of two different almost black types of rock with little internal cohesion, but no dust was detected.{{cite web|url=https://www.dlr.de/content/en/articles/news/2019/03/20190715_mascot-confirms-what-scientists-have-long-suspected.html|title=MASCOT confirms what scientists have long suspected|website=dlr.de|access-date=2020-03-07}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dlr.de/content/en/articles/news/2019/03/20190822_the-near-earth-asteroid-ryugu-a-fragile-cosmic-rubble-pile.html|title=The near-Earth asteroid Ryugu – a fragile cosmic rubble pile|website=dlr.de|access-date=2020-03-07}} A third paper describing results from MASCOT was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research and describes the magnetic properties of Ryugu, showing that Ryugu does not have a magnetic field on a boulder scale.{{cite journal|last1=Hercik|first1=David|last2=Auster|first2=Hans-Ulrich|last3=Constantinescu|first3=Dragos|last4=Blum|first4=Jürgen|last5=Fornaçon|first5=Karl-Heinz|last6=Fujimoto|first6=Masaki|last7=Gebauer |first7=Kathrin|last8=Grundmann|first8=Jan-Thimo|last9=Güttler|first9=Carsten|last10=Hillenmaier|first10=Olaf|last11=Ho|first11=Tra-Mi|date=2020|title=Magnetic Properties of Asteroid (162173) Ryugu |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets|volume=125|issue=1|pages=e2019JE006035|doi=10.1029/2019JE006035|bibcode=2020JGRE..12506035H|issn=2169-9100|doi-access=free|hdl=1721.1/136097.2|hdl-access=free}}

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File:Hayabusa hover.jpg

The original plan was for the spacecraft to collect up to three samples:

1) surface material that exhibits traits of hydrous minerals;

2) surface material with either unobservable or weak evidence of aqueous alterations;

3) excavated sub-surface material.[https://www.wakusei.jp/book/pp/2013/2013-4/2013-4-261.pdf Bringing back a C-type asteroid sample] (in Japanese), Shogo Tachibana, JAXA, 2013

The first two surface samples were scheduled to start in late October 2018, but the rovers showed large and small boulders and insufficient surface area to sample, so the mission team decided to postpone sampling to 2019 and evaluate various options.[http://www.hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en/topics/20181014e_TD/ Schedule changes for the touchdown operation], JAXA, University of Tokyo and collaborators, Hayabusa2 Project, 14 October 2018 The first surface sampling was completed on 22 February 2019 and obtained a substantial amount of topsoil, so the second surface sampling was postponed and was eventually cancelled to decrease the risks to the mission.[http://fanfun.jaxa.jp/jaxatv/files/20190305_hayabusa2.pdf#page=7 Hayabusa2 Mission Update], JAXA Press conference on 5 March 2019, Quote/translation:
• The second touchdown will be done inside or near the artificial crater created by SCI. (Final decision will be made after SCI operation whether or not to actually perform the second try.)
• There is a high probability that a third touchdown will not be done.
※ Reason for choosing to give priority to experiments with collision equipment
• It was judged that sample was sufficiently collected with the first touchdown.
• There is a case in which the amount of light received by some of the optical systems of the bottom surface has decreased due to the first touchdown. There is no problem with normal operation, but a careful preliminary investigation is necessary for touchdown operation. Because it takes time to investigate, SCI operation was done first.

The second and final sample was collected from material that was dislodged from beneath the surface by the kinetic impactor (SCI impactor) shot from a distance of {{cvt|300|m}}.{{cite web|title=Here's an Update on Hayabusa2's Crater-Creating Explosion|url=https://www.planetary.org/articles/hayabusa2-sci-update|access-date=2020-08-24|publisher=The Planetary Society}}[http://www.hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en/news/schedule/ Hayabusa2 Mission Schedule], JAXA, Accessed 4 October 2018 All samples are stored in separate sealed containers inside the sample return capsule (SRC).

Hayabusa2{{'s}} sampling device is based on Hayabusa{{'s}}. The first surface sample retrieval was conducted on 21 February 2019, which began with the spacecraft's descent, approaching the surface of the asteroid. When the sampler horn attached to Hayabusa2{{'s}} underside touched the surface, a {{cvt|5|g}} tantalum projectile (bullet) was fired at {{cvt|300|m/s}} into the surface.[https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-47293317 Hayabusa-2: Japan spacecraft touches down on asteroid], Paul Rincon, BBC News, 22 February 2019 The resulting ejected materials were collected by a "catcher" at the top of the horn, which the ejecta reached under their own momentum under microgravity conditions.

File:Hayabusa2 SCI impact and subsurface sampling.gif

The sub-surface sample collection required an impactor to create a crater in order to retrieve material under the surface, not subjected to space weathering. This required removing a large volume of surface material with a powerful impactor. For this purpose, Hayabusa2 deployed on 5 April 2019 a free-flying gun with one "bullet", called the Small Carry-on Impactor (SCI); the system contained a {{cvt|2.5|kg}} copper projectile, shot onto the surface with an explosive propellant charge. Following SCI deployment, Hayabusa2 also left behind a deployable camera (DCAM3)DCAM3 is numbered as such because it is a follow-on to the DCAM1 and DCAM2 used for the IKAROS interplanetary solar sail to observe and map the precise location of the SCI impact, while the orbiter maneuvered to the far side of the asteroid to avoid being hit by debris from the impact.

It was expected that the SCI deployment would induce seismic shaking of the asteroid, a process considered important in the resurfacing of small airless bodies. However, post-impact images from the spacecraft revealed that little shaking had occurred, indicating the asteroid was significantly less cohesive than was expected.{{Cite journal|last1=Nishiyama|first1=G.|last2=Kawamura|first2=T.|last3=Namiki|first3=N.|last4=Fernando|first4=B.|last5=Leng|first5=K.|last6=Onodera|first6=K.|last7=Sugita|first7=S.|last8=Saiki|first8=T.|last9=Imamura|first9=H.|last10=Takagi|first10=Y.|last11=Yano|first11=H.|title=Simulation of Seismic Wave Propagation on Asteroid Ryugu Induced by The Impact Experiment of The Hayabusa2 Mission: Limited Mass Transport by Low Yield Strength of Porous Regolith|url=https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2020JE006594|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets|year=2021|volume=126|issue=2|language=en|pages=e2020JE006594|doi=10.1029/2020JE006594|bibcode=2021JGRE..12606594N|s2cid=230574308 |issn=2169-9100}}

File:Movie before and after touchdown on Ryugu taken with Hayabusa2's small monitor camera (CAM-H).webm

Approximately 40 minutes after separation, when the spacecraft was at a safe distance, the impactor was fired into the asteroid surface by detonating a {{cvt|4.5|kg}} shaped charge of plasticized HMX for acceleration.{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.actaastro.2012.11.010|bibcode=2013AcAau..84..227S|title=Small carry-on impactor of Hayabusa2 mission|year=2013

|last1=Saiki|first1=Takanao|last2=Sawada|first2=Hirotaka|last3=Okamoto|first3=Chisato|last4=Yano|first4=Hajime|last5=Takagi|first5=Yasuhiko|last6=Akahoshi|first6=Yasuhiro|last7=Yoshikawa|first7=Makoto

|journal=Acta Astronautica|volume=84|pages=227–236}} The copper impactor was shot onto the surface from an altitude of about {{cvt|500|m}} and it excavated a crater of about {{cvt|10|m}} in diameter, exposing pristine material.[https://gizmodo.com/new-photos-show-the-surprisingly-big-crater-blasted-int-1834298147 New Photos Show the Surprisingly Big Crater Blasted Into Asteroid Ryugu by Japan's Hayabusa2 Probe], George Dvorsky, Gizmodo, 22 May 2019 The next step was the deployment on 4 June 2019 of a reflective target marker in the area near the crater to assist with navigation and descent. The touchdown and sampling took place on 11 July 2019.

File:Replica of Hayabusa capsule at JAXA i.jpg

The spacecraft collected and stored the samples in separate sealed containers inside the sample-return capsule (SRC), which is equipped with thermal insulation. The container is {{cvt|40|cm}} external diameter, {{cvt|20|cm}} in height, and a mass of about {{cvt|16|kg}}.

At the end of the science phase in November 2019, Hayabusa2 used its ion engines to change orbit and return to Earth.[http://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/hayabusa2/instruments.html Major onboard instruments – Re-entry Capsule], Accessed: 2 September 2018 Hours before Hayabusa2 flew past Earth in late 2020, it released the capsule, on 5 December 2020 at 05:30 UTC.{{cite news|date=December 5, 2020|title=はやぶさ2、カプセル分離に成功 6日未明に着地へ|url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO67050290V01C20A2I00000 |language=ja|newspaper=The Nikkei|access-date=2020-12-05}} The capsule was released spinning at one revolution per three seconds, and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere at {{cvt|12|km/s}}. Deploying a radar-reflective parachute at an altitude of about {{cvt|10|km}}, it ejected its heat shield while transmitting a position beacon signal. The sample capsule landed at the Woomera Test Range in Australia.[http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/why-sample-return.html What's the benefit of sample-return?], Jason Davis, The Planetary Society, 5 July 2018 The total flight distance was {{cvt|5.24|e9km}}.

Any volatile substances will be collected before the sealed containers are opened. The samples will be curated and analyzed at JAXA's Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center,[https://curation.isas.jaxa.jp/ Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center] where international scientists can request a small portion of the samples. The spacecraft brought back a capsule containing carbon-rich asteroid fragments that scientists believe could provide clues about the ancient delivery of water and organic molecules to Earth.{{cite web|last=Normile|first=Dennis|date=2020-12-07|title=Japan's Hayabusa2 capsule lands with carbon-rich asteroid samples|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/japan-s-hayabusa2-capsule-lands-carbon-rich-asteroid-samples|access-date=2020-12-09 |website=Science {{!}} AAAS}}{{cite web|title=Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft brings pieces of asteroid back to earth|url=https://newsasiatoday.com/japans-hayabusa2-spacecraft-brings-pieces-of-asteroid-back-to-earth/|access-date=2020-12-09|website=News Asia Today|date=7 December 2020 }}

File:Jsc2021e062389.jpg

JAXA is sharing a portion of these samples with NASA. In exchange, NASA will provide JAXA a percentage of a sample of asteroid Bennu, when the agency's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft returned to Earth from the space rock on 24 September 2023.{{cite news |first1=Dante |last1=Lauretta |date=20 October 2014 |title=Collaboration between OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa2 |publisher=The Planetary Society |url=https://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/dante-lauretta/20141020-collaboration-between.html |access-date=12 February 2020 |archive-date=13 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213071311/https://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/dante-lauretta/20141020-collaboration-between.html |url-status=live }}

A November 2024 study published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science examined a sample returned from the asteroid Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 mission. Despite stringent contamination control measures, terrestrial microorganisms rapidly colonized the sample. Researchers concluded that the observed microbial growth originated from Earthly contamination during sample preparation rather than being indigenous to the asteroid. This finding underscores the difficulty of preventing microbial contamination, even in highly controlled laboratory environments.{{cite web | title=Ryugu asteroid sample rapidly colonized by terrestrial life despite strict contamination control | website=Phys.org | date=2024-11-22 | url=https://phys.org/news/2024-11-ryugu-asteroid-sample-rapidly-colonized.html | access-date=2024-12-01}}{{cite web|url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earth-life-found-inside-ryugu-asteroid-samples/|date=2024-12-19|access-date=2024-12-30|title=Scientists Discover Earth Life inside an Asteroid Sample|first=Sharmila|last=Kuthunur|work=Scientific American}}{{undue weight inline|Sample contamination|date=January 2025}}

File:Animation of Hayabusa2 orbit - extended mission.webm}}{{·}}{{legend2|Royalblue|Earth}}{{·}}{{legend2|yellow|Sun}}{{·}}{{legend2|cyan|98943 Torifune}}{{·}}{{legend2|gold|1998 KY26}}]]

With the successful return and retrieval of the sample capsule on 6 December 2020 (JST), Hayabusa2 is planned to use its remaining {{cvt|30|kg}} of xenon propellant (from the initial {{cvt|66|kg}}) to extend its service life and fly out to explore new targets.{{cite journal|title=Hayabusa2 extension plan: Asteroid selection and trajectory design|journal=Acta Astronautica|volume=138|pages=225–232|doi=10.1016/j.actaastro.2017.05.016|year=2017|last1=Sarli|first1=Bruno Victorino|last2=Tsuda|first2=Yuichi|bibcode=2017AcAau.138..225S}} As of September 2020, a fly-by of 98943 Torifune in July 2026 and a rendezvous with {{mpl|1998 KY|26}} in July 2031 were selected for the mission extension.{{cite news|date=September 13, 2020|title=はやぶさ２、次のミッションは小惑星「１９９８ＫＹ２６」...ＪＡＸＡ|url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/20200913-OYT1T50040/|language=ja|newspaper=The Yomiuri Shimbun|access-date=2020-09-14|archive-date=5 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205174454/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/20200913-OYT1T50040/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|date=September 15, 2020|title=Japan's Hayabusa2 aims to probe asteroid '1998KY26' in 2031|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200915/p2g/00m/0fe/092000c|newspaper=The Mainichi Newspapers|access-date=2020-09-15|archive-date=15 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915090218/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200915/p2g/00m/0fe/092000c|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|title=Hayabusa 2 Press conference materials |date=15 September 2020 |publisher=JAXA |url=http://www.hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/enjoy/material/press/Hayabusa2_Press_20200915_ver9_en2.pdf}} The observation of Torifune will be a high-speed fly-by of an S-type asteroid.{{cite news |last=Wall |first=Mike |title=Japanese space capsule carrying pristine asteroid samples lands in Australia |url=https://www.space.com/japan-hayabusa2-asteroid-samples-land-australia |access-date=2020-12-11 |date=5 December 2020 |work=Space.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925103858/https://www.space.com/japan-hayabusa2-asteroid-samples-land-australia |archive-date=25 September 2023 |url-status=live }} The fixed camera of Hayabusa2 was not designed for this type of fly-by. The rendezvous with {{mp|1998 KY|26}} will be the first visit of a fast rotating micro-asteroid, with a rotation period of about 10 minutes. Between 2021 and 2026, the spacecraft will also conduct transit observations of exoplanets. An option to conduct a Venus flyby to set up an encounter with {{mpl|2001 AV|43}} was also studied.{{cite web|url=https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2020010900196|title=はやぶさ２、再び小惑星へ 地球帰還後も任務継続―対象天体を選定へ・ＪＡＸＡ|trans-title=Hayabusa2 will explore another asteroid, continuing mission after returning target sample to Earth|agency=Jiji Press|date=9 January 2020|access-date=9 January 2020|language=ja|archive-date=24 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524100408/https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2020010900196|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Bartels|first=Meghan|url=https://www.space.com/japan-hayabusa2-asteroid-mission-eyes-second-target.html|title=Japan may extend Hayabusa2 asteroid mission to visit 2nd space rock|publisher=Space.com|date=12 August 2020|access-date=13 August 2020}}

Selected EAEEA (Earth → Asteroid → Earth → Earth → Asteroid) scenario:

• December 2020: Extension mission start
• 2021 until July 2026: cruise operation
• July 2026: S-type asteroid 98943 Torifune high-speed fly-by
• December 2027: Earth swing-by
• June 2028: Second Earth swing-by
• July 2031: Target body ({{mpl|1998 KY|26}}) rendezvous

The nickname of the extended mission is “Hayabusa2♯” (read “Hayabusa2 Sharp”). The character “♯” is a musical symbol which raises an adjacent note by a semitone. It is also an acronym for “Small Hazardous Asteroid Reconnaissance Probe,” as the mission is set to investigate potentially dangerous small asteroids that may collide with the Earth in the future. The word “sharp” also highlights the challenging nature of the mission, which is reflected in the musical meaning of raising the note by a semitone, suggesting a raised rank of the mission.{{Cite conference |last1=Hirabayashi |first1=Masatoshi |last2=Yoshikawa |first2=Makoto |last3=Mimasu |first3=Yuya |last4=Tanaka |first4=Satoshi |last5=Saiki |first5=Takanao |last6=Nakazawa |first6=Satoru |last7=Tsuda |first7=Yuichi |last8=Tatsumi |first8=Eri |last9=Popescu |first9=Marcel |last10=Pravec |first10=Petr |last11=Urakawa |first11=Seitaro |last12=Yoshida |first12=Fumi |last13=Hirata |first13=Naru |last14=Kamata |first14=Shunichi |last15=Kitazato |first15=Kohei |date=2023-02-15 |title=Hayabusa2#'s Exploration to Asteroids 2001 CC21 and 1998 KY26 Provides Key Insights Into Planetary Defense |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230002153 |conference=8th IAA Planetary Defense Conference |location=Vienna, Austria |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240123201919/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20230002153 |archive-date=23 January 2024 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=2022/06/29 What's new |url=http://www.hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en/topics/20220629_logo_e/index.html/ |access-date=2023-09-24 |website=JAXA Hayabusa2 porject |language=ja}}

{{Portal|Spaceflight}}

• Abiogenesis
• {{annotated link|Hayabusa Mk2}}
• OSIRIS-REx – NASA asteroid sample return mission to 101955 Bennu (operational at the same time as Hayabusa2)
• Panspermia

• {{annotated link|Hiten (spacecraft)}}
• {{annotated link|Martian Moons Exploration}}
• {{annotated link|OKEANOS}}
• Suisei spacecraft

{{Reflist|group=Note}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Hayabusa2}}

• [http://www.hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en/ Hayabusa2 project website]
• [https://global.jaxa.jp/projects/sas/hayabusa2/ JAXA Hayabusa2 website]
• [http://www.darts.isas.jaxa.jp/planet/project/hayabusa2/ Hayabusa2 Science Data Archives] hosted by the DARTS archive (ISAS)
• [http://europlanet.dlr.de/Hayabusa2/MASCOT/index.html MASCOT related publications by the Institute of Planetary Research] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130081901/http://europlanet.dlr.de/Hayabusa2/MASCOT/index.html |date=30 November 2020 }} hosted by Europlanet
• [http://pub.haya2.sys.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ Hayabusa2 images scientific commentary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028191844/http://pub.haya2.sys.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ |date=28 October 2020 }}, University of Tokyo
• [https://jpn.nec.com/ad/cosmos/hayabusa2/index.html Asteroid Explorer Hayabusa2], NEC
• [http://www.asahi.com/special/rocket/hayabusa2_3d/ Hayabusa2 3D model], Asahi Shinbun

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{{2020 in space}}

{{2021 in space}}

Category:2014 in Japan

Category:Japanese space probes

Category:Missions to near-Earth asteroids

Category:Sample return missions

Category:Astrobiology space missions

Category:Exoplanet search projects

Category:Space probes launched in 2014

Category:Spacecraft launched by H-II rockets

Category:Articles containing video clips