TOP > Our Enterprises > Missions > Asteroid Exploration HAYABUSA (MUSES-C) > Asteroid Explorer Information about HAYABUSA
Today's HAYABUSA / March 4, 2010 (JST)
Presumption Distance from Earth : 30,170,330 km
Current Position/Trajectory Profile
March 12, 2010
From last week to this week, a precise orbit determination has been
performed and the closest distance was not improved much. The current
closest distance to Earth is about 130 thousand kilometers.
The figure attached tells the outbound trajectory from Earth veers off showing
the swingby characteristics.
From now on, the ion engines are operated to target the prescribed point
around the Earth, and the decreasing speed for the closest distance will
be decelerated.
Project manager Junichiro Kawaguchi
Hayabusa now at the Final Guidance Phase
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Current position of HAYABYSA in inertial coordinate system (ecliptic coordinate system) (as of March, 2010)
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Hot Information
January 14, 2010
HAYABUSA coming back to terrestrial gravitation realm! Soon to be home
The Asteroid Explorer “HAYABUSA,” which is on its way back to the Earth, has gradually been changing its orbit to come closer to the Earth. The explorer is now confirmed to be on an orbit that passes through the inside of the terrestrial gravitation sphere (about 1.4 million km from the Earth.) Currently, the HAYABUSA is flying about 60 million km away from the Earth. Its flight orbit is scheduled to be moved inside the moon orbit.
Proximity Operation Ahead
| In June of 2010 | Return to the Earth |
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Success Criteria for HAYABUSA ( defined prior to launch )
| [ Success! ] Operation of Ion Engines | 50 points |
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| [ Success! ] Operation of Ion Engines for more than 1000 hours | 100 points |
| [ Success! ] Earth Gravity Assist with Ion Engines | 150 points |
| [ Success! ] Rendezvous with Itokawa with Autonomous Navigation | 200 points |
| [ Success! ] Scientific Observation of Itokawa | 250 points |
| [ Success! ] Touch-down and Sample Collection | 275 points |
| Capsule Recovered | 400 points |
| Sample obtained for Analysis | 500 points |
