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AsianScientist (Sep 27, 2018) – The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has successfully planted two robots on the surface of the asteroid Ryugu. Announcing the landing on Twitter on September 22, 2018, JAXA scientists tweeted that the two rovers were in good condition and were transmitting photos and data.
Named MINERVA-II1 (MIcro Nano Experimental Robotic Vehicle for asteroids, the second generation), the two rovers were launched from the Hayabusa2 spacecraft after a journey of 300 million kilometers from Earth. The Ryugu asteroid only measures 900 meters, highlighting the precision of the maneuver – the equivalent of a Japanese six-centimeter target in Brazil.
The two rovers are hexagonal, each with a diameter of 18 centimeters and a height of seven centimeters. Each weighs about 1.1 kilograms. Equipped with cameras and temperature sensors, their mission is to map the surface of Ryugu and send data to Hayabusa2, which will retransmit them to Earth.
To move around the asteroid, rovers use a jump mechanism rather than wheels or tracks. This is due to Ryugu's extremely low gravity: the wheels and tracks lift the surface of the asteroid as soon as the rovers attempt to move, preventing any further mobility. Thanks to the jump mechanism, the rovers will be suspended above the surface for less than 15 minutes before landing at about 15 meters.
A third vehicle, the MINERVA-II2, is expected to land on Ryugu next year. Once the rovers have mapped Ryugu and the Hayabusa2 has taken samples of the asteroid, the Hayabusa2 will leave Ryugu and return to Earth by 2020.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: JAXA.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
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