Spacecraft "Hayabusa 2" has been journeying independently for over a decade without any cost?
The Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa 2 is on a six-year journey to asteroid 1998 KY26, a unique target for a mission due to its small size. The spacecraft, approximately 1.6 meters in length with solar panels extending its width to about 6.4 meters, is scheduled to reach the asteroid in 2031.
Asteroid 1998 KY26, similar in size to the Tunguska and Chelyabinsk fragments, may be a fragment of a planet or another asteroid, or a loosely consolidated pile of rubble. New measurement data shows that the asteroid spins twice as fast as previously assumed, with a rotation period of about 5 minutes. This rapid rotation could potentially impact plans to collect samples from the asteroid's surface.
The study of asteroids like 1998 KY26 is of great interest to scientists, who hope to gain insights into early processes in the solar system and potential origins of life. By analyzing data and samples from these celestial bodies, researchers aim to understand the physical properties and behavior of very small asteroids.
The Hayabusa2 mission has been extended to 2026, during which it will also fly by the asteroid Torifune in 2026. The Osiris-Rex spacecraft, another pioneer in asteroid exploration, landed on the asteroid Bennu in October 2020 and collected rock and dust samples during its brief stay. These samples were later released back to Earth.
The study published in the journal "Nature Communications" was led by Toni Santana-Ros of the University of Alicante in Spain. The research team used data from observatories around the world to gather information about asteroid 1998 KY26.
As Hayabusa 2 approaches asteroid 1998 KY26, it promises to provide valuable insights into the mysterious world of small asteroids. The mission's successful landing on a distant asteroid in the past is a testament to the advancements in space exploration technology and the exciting discoveries that lie ahead.
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