Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft

Question 1

What is Hayabusa2 project?

Answer 1

• asteroid sample-return mission operated by the Japanese space agency, JAXA.
• carried multiple science payloads for remote sensing, sampling, and four small rovers that will investigate the asteroid surface

Question 2

What are the scientific objectives of Hayabusa2 mission?

Answer 2

To characterize the asteroid from remote sensing observations (with multispectral cameras, near-infrared spectrometer, thermal infrared imager, laser altimeter) on a macroscopic scale.

To analyse the samples returned from the asteroid on a microscopic scale.

Question 3

What is the significance of the mission?

Answer 3

Ryugu is a C-type asteroid – a relic from the early days of the Solar System. Scientists think that C-type asteroids contain both organic matter, and trapped water, and might have been responsible for bringing both to Earth, thereby providing the planet with the materials necessary for life to originate.