Japan's Hayabusa2 Probe to Observe Asteroid Torifune During July Flyby
Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft will observe asteroid Torifune on July 5 during a high-speed flyby at approximately 1 kilometer distance. The probe is currently on an extended mission following its successful 2020 return from asteroid Ryugu, with a target arrival at asteroid 1998 KY 26 scheduled for July 2031. The flyby will serve as a test of trajectory control technology that could be used to deflect asteroids on potential collision courses with Earth.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency announced that its Hayabusa2 unmanned probe will conduct observations of asteroid Torifune on July 5 at approximately 6:30 p.m., passing at a speed of 5 kilometers per second. The spacecraft will attempt to photograph Torifune from a distance of 1 kilometer or less during the encounter. This observation is part of Hayabusa2's extended mission, which began after the probe successfully returned a capsule containing samples from asteroid Ryugu to Earth in December 2020. The probe is currently en route to its next primary target, asteroid 1998 KY 26, with an expected arrival in July 2031. Beyond scientific observation, JAXA plans to use the Torifune flyby to test high-precision trajectory control technology that could potentially be applied to deflecting asteroids that pose collision risks to Earth.
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- The Japan TimesCenter
Japan’s Hayabusa2 to observe asteroid Torifune during July flyby
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