The Asteroid Explorer “Hayabusa2” Returning back to Earth on December 6th with fragments of asteroid Ryugu What is Hayabusa2? Hayabusa2 is the asteroid explorer launched from Tanegashima Space Center on December 3, 2014. It will return back to Earth on December 6, 2020. It aims to explore the origin and evolution of the earth, sea, and life by exploring C-type asteroids rich in water and organic matter, while maintaining and developing the deep space return exploration technology demonstrated by the original Hayabusa. After touching down on the asteroid Ryugu in June 2020, it has successfully made various observations and has achieved seven world’s firsts. Seven World’s Firsts 1. Moving exploration by rovers on small celestial body 2. Multiple rover deployment on a small celestial body 3. Achieved 60cm-accuracy landing on a small celestial body 4. Artificial crater forming and observation of impact process ©JAXA 5. Landing on two locations on the same celestial body 6. Access to subsurface material of an extraterrestrial body 7. World’s smallest artificial satellites in multiple orbit around an extraterrestrial body <Hayabusa2 reporter briefing by JAXA> @NEC Corporation NEC’s Engagement to “Hayabusa2” Project (Cases) Manufacture of Haybausa2 Inspection of Solar Array Paddle ©JAXA ©JAXA Operational Support Celebrating together with JAXA ©JAXA ©JAXA @NEC Corporation NEC’s involvement in “Hayabusa2” Project (Detail) NEC’s involvement spans the development, operation and processes leading to Haybusa2’s successes in close collaboration with JAXA, going beyond the probe itself to include the infrastructure to support its operation, and the operational support itself. 【Main responsibility of NEC】 Probe ・Design, manufacturing and testing of entire probe system ・Whole system ・Design, manufacturing and testing of each sub-system ・Sub-system ・Power supply system ・Communication system ・Data processing system On-board device ©JAXA ・Attitude and orbit control system ・Electric propulsion system(Ion engine) ・Sampler mechanism (SMP) ・Thermal control system Ground system ・Structural system ・Electrical instrumentation ・Supply of each on-board device that composes the above subsystem Operational ・Ground operational system technology (Satellite control system, station control system, etc. ） support ・Operational technology support In particular, support is provided 24 hours a day, in 3 shifts, during critical operations such as descent to the asteroid. ©JAXA @NEC Corporation Asteroid Explorer “Hayabusa2” Sample return Expected return to Earth： December 6th, 2020 Asteroid “Ryugu” • C-type (Carbonaceous) • Shape : Nearly spherical • Structure：Fragile Rubble Pile Around 6 m • Size : Approx. 900 m Reflectivity : 0.05 (blackish) • Rotation period : 7 h 38 min approx. (about 1/3 of earth) Around 4.2 m Weight： Around 609 kg Launch： December 3rd, 2014 Arrival at Ryugu： June 27th, 2018 Departure from Ryugu： November 13th, 2019 Duration on asteroid： Around 17 months Illustration：Akihiro Ikeshita @NEC Corporation Three Significances of Hayabusa2 Where Clarifying the origin and evolution of did we come Scientific materials in the solar system significance from World leading Maintain and develop the technologies Technological technology for deep-space return exploration of Japan significance ©JAXA Innovation of scientific technology The frontier Impact on industry and society Significance challenge Enhance international presence as an explorer Positively influence the younger generation Source: JAXA @NEC Corporation Mission Flow of Hayabusa2 Earth swing-by Ryugu arrival MINERVA-Ⅱ1 separation Dec 3, 2015 Jun 27, 2018 Sep 21, 2018 MASCOT separation Oct 3, 2018 Dec 3, 2014 First touchdown Feb 22, 2019 Around 72 months from launch to return Stayed at Ryugu for around 17 months Ryugu departure Nov 13, 2019 Earth return MINERVA-Ⅱ2 separationSecond touchdown Impactor(SCI) Source：JAXA Dec 6, 2020 Oct 3, 2019 Jul 11, 2019 Apr 5, 2019 Illustration Akihiro Ikeshita @NEC Corporation Related Links Please visit “NEC Reaching for the stars” for more information on Hayabusa2 NEC Reaching for the stars https://www.nec.com/en/global/ad/cosmos/index.html Pioneering space into the future https://www.nec.com/en/global/ad/cosmos/history/index.html Hayabusa2 https://www.nec.com/en/global/ad/cosmos/hayabusa2/ Interview with engineers •How our great teamwork overcame huge obstacles to explore the unknown asteroid "Ryugu" Articles •Thermography in space: Solving the mystery of how asteroids form •Asteroid explorer Hayabusa2’s “tail-up”: The Attitude and Orbit Control Subsystem (AOCS) in action HAYABUSA https://www.nec.com/en/global/ad/cosmos/hayabusa •Revealing the true nature of asteroids：HAYABUSA’s historic mission to Itokawa, enabled with NEC technology NEC Space Systems https://www.nec.com/en/global/solutions/space/ @NEC Corporation.