Hayabusa (MUSES-C) - Rendezvous and Proximity Operation

Paper number

IAC-05-A3.5.A.01

Author

Dr. Junichiro Kawaguchi, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/ISAS, Japan

Year

2005

Abstract

Hayabusa (MUSES-C) arrived at the near Earth asteroid ‘Itokawa’ at the beginning of this September. It has flown one year of energy accumulation flight followed by another one year of the post Earth gravity assist flight, which has been also propelled by the ion engines aboard. So far the ion engines have been operated successfully and Hayabusa now has become the first spacecraft making a rendezvous with an asteroid via ion engines. 

Immediately after it arrived, the spacecraft started the station keeping in the Gate Position (GP) located 20 km from the surface. The laser altimeter works normally and the spacecraft autonomously keeps its position inside the GP control box. The shape of Itokawa was photographed and the surface images sent back to the Earth showed a lot of discoveries that have not been assumed before arrival. 

This paper presents the latest status of the spacecraft and the quasi-real time surface images sent to the operation room. And the paper will show the proximity operation schedule that is seen as of today. According to the operation plan, it makes a rehearsal touch-down at the beginning of November and will make two touches down to the surface within November. The paper in detail describes the touch down scenarios and the technology introduced for this purpose.

Hayabusa will depart Itokawa for the Earth at the beginning of December returning the sample to the Earth in June of 2007. The paper and the presentation will open the new exploration era of returning samples back.

Abstract document

IAC-05-A3.5.A.01.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-A3.5.A.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.