The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has given new life to its trusty Hayabusa-2 spacecraft, launched in 2014. Originally tasked with a 6-year mission to the asteroid Ryugu to collect samples, the craft succeeded and returned the specimens to Earth in 2020. But rather than retire Hayabusa-2, JAXA engineers have bold new plans to push the boundaries of planetary defense.
By 2026, Hayabusa-2 will perform a fly-by of the 500-meter-wide asteroid 2002 CC21, located 12.4 million km from Earth. This will demonstrate the long-distance spacecraft maneuvering and observation capabilities key to future asteroid interception missions.
The grand finale will occur in 2031 when Hayabusa-2 reaches the tiny 30-meter-wide asteroid 1998 KY26, orbiting the Sun from a minimum distance of 374,000 km from our planet. As one of the elusive “fast rotating asteroids” spinning rapidly in just 10 minutes, 1998 KY26 presents an extreme environment to study, with centrifugal forces outweighing the asteroid’s own gravity. Additionally, you can also read about- Ancient Human Fossils Sent to Space [Inside Story]
Attaching a target marker to such a small, rapid body would significantly advance understanding of these common outer space objects, anticipated to impact Earth every 100–1000 years with damaging effects. Thus, Hayabusa-2’s exploratory encounter will provide foundational experience in intercepting and deflecting hazardous asteroids.
While JAXA has not stated plans to actually alter 1998 KY26’s course, analyst Lance Gatling suspects they may attempt orbit modification using remaining propellant and ion engines. Further mastering the technique demonstrated by NASA’s recent successful Double Asteroid Redirection Test.
Beyond advancing planetary defense, data gathered during Hayabusa-2’s ambitious extension mission will also benefit Japan’s asteroid mining aspirations. The engineering insights gained from encountering such a tiny, rapid-spinning space rock could prove invaluable.
By pushing Hayabusa-2’s limits for the next decade, JAXA is ensuring one spacecraft’s legacy becomes a cornerstone of future asteroid defense and exploitation initiatives. Their ingenuity exemplifies the enormous potential still untapped in our existing space technology investments.
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