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A rendering of the MINERVA-II1 artist on the surface of Ryugu. JAXA deployed the rovers on the surface of the asteroid early Friday morning. The mission hopes to learn more about the early years of the solar system. ( JAXA Hayabusa2 | Twitter )
Japan has made history after dropping two small vehicles on the asteroid Ryugu located nearly 200 million kilometers from Earth, Friday, September 21.
MINERVA-II1A and MINERVA-II1B, hoping to explore the giant asteroid, separated from the mother ship as planned at midnight. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency confirmed that the rovers had been deployed by Hyabusa2.
JAXA loses contact with rovers MINERVA-II1
Ground control was able to maintain communication with both rovers shortly after their separation from Hyabusa2, but lost connection a few moments later. JAXA is still trying to reconnect to confirm that the two explorers have landed but that they have no reason to panic.
On Twitter, the team behind Hayabusa2 Explain that the position of vehicles MINERVA-II1 makes communication difficult. However, once Ryugu rotates, they expect to make contact.
[MINERVA-II1] The current altitude of Hayabusa2 is about 2.5 km. The state of the spacecraft is normal. The lowest altitude reached was about 55m and the MINERVA-II1 separation time was 13:05 JST aboard the spacecraft. #asteroidlanding – HAYABUSA2 @ JAXA (@ haya2e_jaxa) September 21, 2018
JAXA also received the first photo sent by Ryugu rovers. The photo was captured before landing on the surface of the asteroid.
ER MINERVA-Ⅱ1】 Heeeeeeere weeeeee cooooome !!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Ppcjr40SgG – 小 惑星 探査 機 「は は @ @ (@ haya2_jaxa) September 21, 2018
On Saturday morning, JAXA reported that the Hyabusa2 spacecraft had regained its starting position.
[MINERVA-II1] September 22 at 15:00 JST. We have confirmed that Hayabusa2 has returned to its original position (altitude about 20 km) as expected and that the condition of the spacecraft is nominal. This completes the operation for the MINERVA-II1 separation. Thank you for your support of all! – HAYABUSA2 @ JAXA (@ haya2e_jaxa) September 22, 2018
The Hyabusa2 mission
Once ready, the MINERVA-II1 rovers should explore the surface of the asteroid. Both machines are equipped with cameras and temperature sensors to collect Ryugu data.
A key detail of both rovers is the ability to "jump" so as to move on the surface of the asteroid and explore multiple areas. Because the gravity on Ryugu is low, the rover should stay in the air about 15 minutes after a single jump before returning to the ground.
The Hyabusa2 is expected to drop another lander named MASCOT (Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout) on the surface of the asteroid in October, and then deploy the MINERVA-II2, another hopper next year. The spacecraft will come to a meeting later this year to collect a sample of Ryugu before it returns to Earth.
The mission Hyabusa2 hopes to understand what the asteroid is made of. Ryugu and similar drifting rocks in space are thought to be remnants of the early years of the solar system.
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