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TOPIC: HAYABUSA (MUSES-C) mission
Blobrana


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RE: HAYABUSA (MUSES-C) mission
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The space probe is slowly starting to close in with the Asteroid.

Distance from Earth : 309,853,700km
Distance from Itokawa : 12km

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Blobrana


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Itokawa
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The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has proposed names for some features on the asteroid Itokawa.

According to the IAU terrain features larger than about 100 metres should named after gods or international places names.
The Hayabusa project team proposes naming the smaller terrain features based on the nicknames referred to by the Joint Science Team analysts.



Muses Sea: is the smooth terrain and stands for 'MUSES-C', the project code of Hayabusa, at the same time, named after the expanse where the Greek goddesses Muses are.

Uchinoura Bay: is a potential crater on Itokawa, named after the Mother port (launch site) of Hayabusa in Kyushu island, Japan.

Woomera Desert: is also a potential large crater on Itokawa, named after the intended recovery area of Hayabusa-carried capsule with sample, Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) in Australia, the return port of Hayabusa.

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Blobrana


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RE: HAYABUSA (MUSES-C) mission
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Blobrana


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This is the composite colour image of Itokawa taken at September 12, 2005.


This image composed of three images with different filters as red, green and blue. The irregular shape is clearly seen.


A rotation sequence observed on September 10th and 11th. (v-band)
The rotation period is about 12 hours.

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Blobrana


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The spacecraft will immediately start mapping the asteroid and will
determine its surface composition by analysing the spectra of the light it reflects. At the end of September, it will approach to about 7 km from the 630-metre-long asteroid and make a more detailed map.

Initial images show that the asteroid's edges appear rounded. This could be the result of eons of being pelted by other space objects. There also appears to be some dust and rocks left over from impacts on the asteroid's surface. This is another surprise because small asteroids, with such tiny gravity, are not expected to have so-called "regolith" clinging to them.

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Blobrana


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Probe establishes 20 km orbit around asteroid

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Blobrana


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CG of HAYABUSA mission from the launch to Earth return

5.4M,High resolution mp4 mp4
1.3M,Low resolution mp4

-- Edited by Blobrana at 04:42, 2005-09-13

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Blobrana


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Hayabusa has arrived.
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Hayabusa was around 20 kilometres away from asteroid Itokawa at,01:17 GMT, 12 Sep (10:17 am JST: Japanese Standard Time).



This picture was taken at, 23:35 GMT, 11 Sep (8:35 am JST) just before the settlement by the visible imager AMICA. The field of view is two degrees.
The photo shows contrast of rocky and hilly region and smooth area, which may suggest the origin of this asteroid. This feature may be a key to consider Itokawa’s origin and evolution.

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Blobrana


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Itokawa
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Hayabusa continues approaching Itokawa, and its image is growing day by day. The left image is taken at 15:00 UTC on September 10 by the visible imager, AMICA. The distance from Hayabusa to Itokawa is approximately 30 km.


Expand
Images of Itokawa: Sept. 10 (1 deg. x 1 deg.)
Left: 15:00 UTC Right: 16:42 UTC

The right image was obtained at 16:42 UTC on the day. The left image shows different face from the last release. Itokawa rotates about 50 degrees between left and right images. Surface features are more clearly seen.

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Blobrana


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The Japanese Hayabusa (Muses C) spacecraft has now imaged the peanut-shaped asteroid, revealing details such as craters.
Hayabusa is now less than 47 kilometres from the asteroid.


Image of Itokawa: Sept. 8, 16:15 UTC (25 arc-min x 25 arc-min). Image (RIGHT): Sept. 8, 18:11 UTC.





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