posted 09-08-2005 11:18 AM            

• ul (380nm),
  
• b (420nm),
  
• v (540nm),
  
• w (700nm),
  
• x (860nm),
  
• p (940nm),
  
• zs (1,000nm) bands respectively.

In addition to AMICA, Hayabusa performed its on-orbit health check of its Laser Altimeter (LIDAR) , which detects the distance to Itokawa in order to trigger the stop maneuver which is when Hayabusa reaches the "Gate Position box" located 20 kilometers above the asteroid

posted 09-09-2005 07:00 AM            

The Micro Nano Experimental Robot Vehicle at Asteroid (MINERVA) weighs only 591 grams, is only 100 mm high and 520 mm diameter. It is like a small drum in shape with solar cells covering its surface and with many 'pins' jutting out of its sides. Some of these pins contain the thermometers.

The MINERVA will be able to 'jump' about 9 cm maximum at a time.

posted 09-12-2005 08:57 AM               

Hayabusa arrives at target asteroid Itokaw

The asteroid exploration probe, "Hayabusa", which has been traveling to its target, the Itokawa, arrived some 20km away from the asteroid at 10:00 a.m. on September 12 (Japan Standard Time), and is now stationary at the site.

Images acquired by the Hayabusa show the rough and rocky surface of the Itokawa. The Hayabusa will carry out a scientific probe including sample collections and topological investigations over about two months.

posted 09-22-2005 11:25 AM            

• Muses Sea is the smooth terrain and stands for MUSES-C, the project code of Hayabusa, at the same time, named after the expanse where the Greek goddesses Muses are.

• Uchinoura Bay is a potential crater on Itokawa, named after the mother port (launch site) of Hayabusa in Kyushu island, Japan.

• Woomera Desert is also a potential large crater on Itokawa, named after the intended recovery area of Hayabusa-carried capsule with sample, Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) in Australia, the return port of Hayabusa.

posted 10-05-2005 02:37 PM               

Japan's Hayabusa asteroid sample-return spacecraft has lost the use of a second reaction wheel, forcing increased reliance on its chemical-propellant thrusters for attitude control and raising questions about whether it can make its planned asteroid touchdown in November, Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) announced Oct. 4.

posted 10-11-2005 06:19 AM            

As already reported, Hayabusa lost one reaction wheel (X-axis) on July 31st and has taken an alternative flight mode using two wheels for the attitude stabilization.

On October 3rd, another Y-axis reaction wheel was found not functioning. The incident occurred at 23:08 JST on Oct. 2nd, while it is not operated from Japan.

When the incident occurred, Hayabusa was under the autonomous asteroid tracking mode. The task was with no trouble compensated by RCS (chemical engines) and the observation had been maintained.

Currently, Hayabusa continues the attitude stabilization using one wheel plus two RCS engines. And subsequent observation plan is studied after adequate amount of information is gathered.

Note, Z-axis wheel has no problem from launch and in good health.

Still under a detailed study. Fortunately, global mapping is almost completed.

In terms of guidance and navigation, Hayabusa uses radio measuremets, and no problem is foreseen.

Operation team is analyzing how to reduce fuel consumption for attitude stabilization. Activity plan will be updated and reported, as soon as the strategy is fixed.

posted 11-01-2005 10:52 AM            

There are a few clear 'plain' areas but would need careful trajectory planning.

posted 11-11-2005 01:06 PM            

The cause of an anomaly that led to the cancellation of the rehearsal scheduled on Nov. 4 was clarified, thus we will carry out its landing at the "MUSES Sea" and sampling under the following schedule.

Nov. 12: Rescheduled rehearsal for descending (Release the probing robot "Minerva").

Nov. 19: First sampling (Release the target marker with signatures).

posted 11-12-2005 09:49 AM            

Hayabusa decsended onto Itokawa today and has released the Minerva robot AND has since communicated with it.

posted 11-14-2005 02:25 PM               

And Hyabusa will not attempt to touch the surface until Nov. 19.

This (the loss of Minerva) has no bearing on the rest of the mision or the sample taking.

posted 11-17-2005 11:17 AM            

...that Hayabusa distance from Itokawa is 3.5 km and is 3 days before the 1st touch down and sampling. Hayabusa will also release a target marker with 880,000 signatures from people all over the world.

...and they are going to perform the touch-down on early Sunday morning (JST).

posted 11-19-2005 01:09 PM            

Hayabusa just 500 metres now and descending so cannot be far from 'touchdown'.

posted 11-19-2005 01:39 PM            

The rate of descent is much slower than my previous post said. I was going by the Blog enters details and he posted 3 blogs in a few minutes or so and I miscalculated time diff between UK/Japan.