Japan's Hayabusa2 probe to conduct flyby of Torifune asteroid
5 hours ago
- #Space Exploration
- #Hayabusa2
- #Planetary Defense
- Hayabusa2 to conduct flyby of Torifune asteroid on Sunday evening Japan time.
- Flyby part of Extended Mission after returning Ryugu samples; probe en route to next asteroid arrival in 2031.
- Approach as close as 800 meters from Torifune's center, capturing images at 5 km/s speed.
- JAXA aims to obtain science data and precise control tech for high-speed asteroid maneuvers.
- Efforts support 'Planetary Defense' by altering trajectories of asteroids threatening Earth.