Hayabusa

JAXA, or the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, has a rich history of space exploration, with many successful missions that have contributed to our understanding of the universe. Two notable missions that JAXA has undertaken are the Akari and Hayabusa missions. In this article, we will take a closer look at these missions, including their launching dates, objectives, achievements, and costs.

Akari Mission:

The Akari mission was JAXA's first infrared astronomical satellite, launched on February 21, 2006. The mission aimed to observe the entire sky in infrared wavelengths, which are not visible to the human eye, and to create a map of the sky at these wavelengths. The mission was expected to last for about two and a half years.

The primary objective of the Akari mission was to study the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems. By observing the sky in infrared wavelengths, the mission was able to detect objects that are obscured by dust clouds, such as young stars and protoplanetary disks. The mission also studied the interstellar medium, the space between stars that contains gas and dust, and examined the properties of asteroids and comets in our solar system.

The Akari spacecraft was equipped with a 68.5-centimeter telescope and two scientific instruments, the Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) and the Infrared Camera (IRC). The FIS was designed to observe the sky in the far-infrared wavelengths, while the IRC was used to observe the mid-infrared wavelengths. The spacecraft orbited the Earth in a sun-synchronous polar orbit, which allowed it to continuously observe the same part of the sky.

The Akari mission was a joint project between JAXA and the European Space Agency (ESA), and it cost approximately 14 billion yen, or about 126 million dollars, to develop and launch the spacecraft. The mission was very successful, and it made many important discoveries, including the detection of more than 10,000 new stars and galaxies and the identification of hundreds of previously unknown asteroids and comets. The mission also provided valuable data on the interstellar medium and the properties of dust grains in space.

Hayabusa Mission:

The Hayabusa mission was JAXA's first sample return mission, launched on May 9, 2003. The mission aimed to land on an asteroid, collect samples of its surface material, and return them to Earth for analysis. The primary objective of the mission was to study the composition and origin of asteroids, which are believed to be remnants of the early solar system.

The Hayabusa spacecraft was equipped with several scientific instruments, including a camera, a laser altimeter, and a sampler horn. The spacecraft used its ion engines to travel to the asteroid Itokawa, which is about 300 meters in length and orbits the Sun between Earth and Mars. The spacecraft arrived at Itokawa in September 2005 and spent several months studying the asteroid and selecting a landing site.

On November 19, 2005, the spacecraft made a soft landing on the surface of Itokawa and collected samples using its sampler horn. However, due to a malfunction in the spacecraft's thrusters, it was unable to use its ion engines to return to Earth and instead relied on its reaction wheels to stabilize its trajectory.

Despite these challenges, the Hayabusa spacecraft successfully returned to Earth on June 13, 2010, after a journey of more than six years. The spacecraft reentered the Earth's atmosphere and released a capsule containing the asteroid samples, which landed in the Australian outback and were recovered by a JAXA team.

The Hayabusa mission was a remarkable achievement and demonstrated JAXA's technical capabilities in space exploration. The mission cost approximately 12.4 billion yen (about 112 million dollars) to develop and launch the spacecraft, which was a relatively low cost compared to other sample return missions. The spacecraft also made several important scientific discoveries, including the confirmation that Itokawa is a rubble pile asteroid, meaning that it is made up of fragments of rock and dust held together by gravity. The samples returned by Hayabusa also provided valuable insights into the composition and history of asteroids and the early solar system.

In addition to these achievements, the Hayabusa mission also faced several technical challenges, including malfunctions in its thrusters and reaction wheels, which threatened the success of the mission. However, the JAXA team was able to overcome these challenges through innovative engineering solutions and meticulous planning, demonstrating their expertise and dedication to the mission's success.

Overall, the Akari and Hayabusa missions represent significant achievements in space exploration and demonstrate JAXA's commitment to advancing our understanding of the universe. These missions have provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems, as well as the composition and history of asteroids and the early solar system. They also demonstrate JAXA's technical capabilities and expertise in space exploration, and serve as an inspiration for future space missions.