An experimental outreach project has opened to the public in the Communication Hall on the JAXA Sagamihara Campus! The exhibit opened on April 10, 2024 and consists of a small dome where visitors can feel immersed in an animation of the Hayabusa2 touchdown on asteroid Ryugu.
The Hayabusa2 spacecraft touched down on asteroid Ryugu in 2019 to collect a sample of material to bring back to Earth. Visitors can change their view point to watch this key moment in space history from four different perspectives.
The experience was created by the JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), in collaboration with the Tokyo University of the Arts and the Virtual Space Program (VSP).
[Location] JAXA Sagamihara Campus Communication Hall
• Please check the website for details such as opening hours and holidays
https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/visit/ (in Japanese)
[Exhibit] Touchdown Challenge: Guide Hayabusa2 to Ryugu (video experience version)
• The full landing experience is scheduled to be released around June 2024
[Details] JAXA Sagamihara Campus Crowdfunding
JAXA "Bringing the Universe Closer": Enrich space experiences and exchange ideas.
https://readyfor.jp/projects/JAXA2022 (in Japanese)
This exhibit is experimental outreach content created with donations from the JAXA Sagamihara Campus crowdfunding campaign, "JAXA 'Bringing the Universe Closer': Enrich space experiences and exchange ideas". Visitors to the exhibit can enter the 2.7m dome and experience the touchdown of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft on the surface of asteroid Ryugu. Do visit the JAXA Sagamihara campus and to see a moment that took place 300 million kilometres away unfold before your eyes! You can also see an actual fragment of that sample that was collected by Hayabusa2 in the Communication Hall.
We would like to thank the many people who supported this crowdfunding!
The version of the exhibit that opened on April 10 is the video trial version. Around June, an updated landing experience is planned where you can actually operate Hayabusa2 on the screen using a controller and attempt to successfully complete the touchdown on asteroid Ryugu yourself! Details will be announced later on our website.
From Professor HACHIYA Kazuhiko,
Department of Inter-media Art, Faculty of Fine Arts, Tokyo University of the Arts
I myself have built and flown my own aircraft, but I was also an early member of the secret society "Natsu no Rocketeers" (summer rocketeers), which was the predecessor of Interstellar Technologies, a private company that is currently constructing rockets in Taiki-cho, Hokkaido. I've been watching this crowdfunding venture with great interest since it began.
I have also been working with VR for a long time, so I was already familiar with the activities of the Virtual Space Program (VSP), and the wonderful worlds within VRChat※. So I am really honoured to be involved in this collaboration. At the University of the Arts, my main role is behind-the-scenes, such as conducting projection tests onto the dome, and coordinating equipment-related matters. But I feel this joint project with VSP and JAXA is the perfect way to collaborate with people who love astronomy, space and JAXA. We intend to gradually increase the number of things that people will be able to see, so please bear with us!
※ A social VR platform where users can interact with one another in the virtual space.
From the Virtual Space Program (VSP)
As a community active in the VR space, the Virtual Space Program hold VR events, invite guests to give lectures, and create 3D content. In September 2023, we opened a virtual space museum called "VR Space Museum Cosmoria" (VR宇宙博物館コスモリア).
This time, we created an experimental exhibit that utilises the dome space, so you can enjoy the content in real life. With the theme of the Hayabusa2 touchdown, we were responsible for of the 3D model, spacecraft motion, and the game system that recreates the touchdown. Come and experience the moment that happened 300 million kilometres away right in front of your eyes!
