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Satellite Systems

Asteroid Explorer "Hayabusa" (MUSES-C)

The Hayabusa asteroid probe is a deep space probe designed to collect particles from the surface of an asteroid named Itokawa and return them to Earth in the form of a capsule, the world's first mission of this kind. Under the guidance of JAXA, NEC has been involved in the total system development, manufacture, testing, and operations of the Hayabusa probe.

Aims of Hayabusa

Navigation using ion engines, which boast extremely high fuel efficiency, as the main propulsion engines
Autonomous navigation allowing autonomous decisions by the probe in its approach of a distant asteroid
Sample collection under extreme low gravity conditions: Sample collection from the surface of an asteroid by shooting a pellet into the asteroid's surface and collecting some of the particles that fly up as a result
Capsule made of heat-resistant materials for bringing back collected sample

Hayabusa's Technologies

In order for Hayabusa to carry out its challenging mission, NEC was also involved in the development of the required on-board equipment using the latest technologies, including the following.

HAYABUSA

Ion engines capable of operating over long periods in space, enabling probe flight to asteroids and back
Computer enabling probe landing and sampling on its own judgment as a robot
Communication system enabling communication from a distance 2.5 times that between the Earth and the Sun
Cameras and distance sensors acting as the eyes of Hayabusa during touchdown
Sampler that shoots a high-velocity pellet, collects the rocky particles that fly up as a result, and seals them in a capsule
Electronic components of re-entry capsule entering the atmosphere at high speed from extraterrestrial orbit

In addition to the above, NEC has also been involved in the preparation of the 3D maps required for touchdowns based on the camera images of the Itokawa asteroid, and the development of operations-related technologies such as orbit planning for the round trip to Itokawa.

Hayabusa's Accomplishments

In recognition of Hayabusa's many world-first (link) achievements, which include the use of the swing-by technique combined with ion engines, rendezvous observation, touchdown on an asteroid, and landing/lift-off, JAXA and various researchers have received the Space Pioneer Award from the National Space Society (U.S.) and numerous other awards (link), and have won high plaudits both in Japan and overseas.

The tense touchdown operation in 2005 was broadcast on the Internet in real time from the operations room, captivating space fans around the world.

Furthermore, the scientific achievement of the high-precision survey of the Itokawa asteroid is yielding numerous new discoveries and by being featured in a special edition of the Science Magazine, it has been widely disseminated to the world.

Hayabusa Now

The Asteroid Explorer "HAYABUSA" successfully separated its capsule at 7:51 p.m. on June 13 (Japan Standard Time, the following times and dates are all JST,) and re-entered the atmosphere to complete its mission operation at 10:51 p.m.

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