before today , Japan ’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft came tantalizingly close to Ryugu , offer an unprecedented view of the asteroid ’s boulder - strew surface .
Two weeks ago , Hayabusa2came to within six kilometers ( 3.7 miles ) of Ryugu , but today ’s descent , the third of the missionary post , saw Hayabusa2 come to within851 meters(2,800 feet ) of the asteroid , induce it the closest clash to date . Mission planner are preparing for a routine that will see Hayabusa2 collect samples of rock and debris from Ryugu ’s open . Today ’s descent was done to measure the imperfect gravitative pull exerted by the klick - wide asteroid .
The latest descent begin yesterday ( August 6 ) around 11:00 a.m. Japan time , when Hayabusa2 was about 20 km ( 12.4 stat mi ) away from Ryugu . At around 8:30 post meridiem the same day , the probe began to innocent fall towards the asteroid upon reaching an altitude of six kilometers ( 3.7 statute mile ) . Hayabusa2 got to within 851 meters of the asteroid around 8:10 a.m. today , at which point it lease its pusher to move away from the rock again .
During the filiation , Hayabusa2 snapped photos with its telephotograph optical navigation camera ( ONC - T ) and its wide - angle optical navigation camera ( ONC - W ) . The 10 - metre ( 32.8 feet ) graduated table bar at the bottom of the photos provide the needed linear perspective . What looks like a few rocks strewn across the surface are actually magnanimous boulder .
During the gravity measurement operation , JAXA scientist cautiously monitored the move of the spacecraft as it made its free fall and rise , respect the strength of the asteroid ’s gravity on the probe . JAXA still has to determine where it wants the probe to pull its surface samples , and where to deploy the additional diminutive aerofoil probes . This should take place in a distich of months , with the probe hopefully returning to Earth with its samples in late 2020 . But as these new photos show , Ryugu ’s airfoil is complex and treacherous . Choosing an ideal landing place site wo n’t be well-situated .
[ JAXA Hayabusa 2 Project ]
asteroidsAstronomyScience
Daily Newsletter
Get the good tech , skill , and cultivation news in your inbox daily .
News from the futurity , delivered to your nowadays .
You May Also Like
