This weekend, two significant asteroid missions captured attention as Japan's Hayabusa2 and China's Tianwen-2 successfully conducted operations. On July 2, 2023, Hayabusa2 performed a flyby of the peanut-shaped asteroid Torifune, while Tianwen-2 reached its target asteroid Kamoʻoalewa after a journey of 1 billion km.
Hayabusa2's Flyby of Asteroid Torifune
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched Hayabusa2 in December 2014, originally targeting the near-Earth asteroid 162173 Ryugu. After successful sample collection in June 2018, the spacecraft returned to Earth with 5.4 grams of material. This weekend, Hayabusa2 flew by the 450-meter-long asteroid 98943 Torifune, passing within 800 meters.
JAXA reported, “These observations continued until immediately before the closest approach to Torifune but could not be conducted after the spacecraft had passed the asteroid.” The mission aims to extend over the next decade, with a planned flyby of 1998 KY26 in July 2031.
China's Tianwen-2 Reaches Kamoʻoalewa
On the same day, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced that Tianwen-2 had approached the near-Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa. This small asteroid, measuring approximately 20 meters in diameter, was reached by the spacecraft after its long journey.
The probe's arrival signifies the start of detailed scientific operations, including assessing the asteroid's shape, material composition, and rotation. Kamoʻoalewa is classified as a “quasi moon,” orbiting ahead of Earth with a similar period of 365 days and coming within about 4.6 million km at its closest approach.
Future Missions and Sample Collection Plans
Following the characterization of Kamoʻoalewa, Tianwen-2 is set to collect samples, with a return to Earth scheduled for November 2027. If successful, the mission may extend, with plans to explore the intriguing asteroid 311P/PanSTARRS, which exhibits comet-like features.
- Hayabusa2:
- Launched: December 2014
- First target: 162173 Ryugu
- Sample collected: 5.4 grams
- Upcoming flyby: 1998 KY26 in July 2031
- Tianwen-2:
- Launched: Date unspecified
- Current target: 469219 Kamoʻoalewa
- Sample return: November 2027
- Next target: 311P/PanSTARRS
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Ars Technica. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
