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Two tiny rovers that landed on the Ryugu asteroid last week have given back incredible views of the rock surface of the asteroid.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Hayabusa2 sample return mission dropped the two almost identical rovers, named Minerva-II1A and Minerva-II1B, on the Ryugu surface on September 21st. You can watch the sun move in the sky as its bright sunbeams cover the surface of Ryugu.
"Please take a moment to enjoy the" position "on this new world," said JAXA officials in a statement released today (27 September). The video was shot in 1 hour and 14 minutes from 22 September at 21:34. EDT (0134 GMT 23 September). [Japan’s Hayabusa2 Asteroid Ryugu Sample-Return Mission in Pictures]
The MINERVA-II1B rover from the Hayabusa2 mission took this photo of the Ryugu asteroid just before jumping onto the surface of the asteroid on September 22, 2018, at 8:46 pm. EDT (12:46 GMT 23 September). Credit: JAXA
Unlike the rovers that landed on Mars, these twin rovers do not have wheels. Instead of rolling on the surface of the asteroid, these are designed to "jump" on the surface of the asteroid.
They can jump at horizontal distances of up to 15 meters (50 feet), and since Ryugu's gravity is so low, it can take up to 15 minutes to land.
Our MINERVA-II1 rovers have returned more images of Ryugu's surface! Let's see these pictures in detail.
On September 23, 2018, we were able to confirm that Rover-1B had jumped! [1/6]https://t.co/Fb60ozhqTd pic.twitter.com/8yD04TOJtK
– HAYABUSA2 @ JAXA (@ haya2e_jaxa) September 27, 2018
The Minerva-II1 rovers took pictures both on the surface of Ryugu and in the air while performing these giant jumps. When the jump rovers are in motion, the captured images may appear slightly distorted, as you can see in the Minerva-II1B images above.
On September 22, 2018 at 20:48, MINERVA-II1A captured the shadow of its own antenna and pin. EDT (12:48 GMT 23 September).
Credit: JAXA
The other rover, Minerva-II1A, managed to take a picture of his shadow between the jumps. In the shadow of the rover, you can see its antenna and its "pin" – a device that helps to scrub by jumping, protects the solar cells from the rover during the landing and measures the surface temperature of the rover. Asteroid with a built-in thermometer statement.
Another view of Minerva-II1A shows a bizarre football shaped rock formation on the surface of Ryugu.
The Minerva-II1A rover captured this closeup of a rock formation on the Ryugu asteroid on September 22, 2018 at 8:43 pm. EDT (12:43 GMT 23 September).
Credit: JAXA
The Minerva-II1 rovers are not the only spacecraft that the Hayabusa2 mission will deploy to Ryugu. In October, he will drop a lander called MASCOT. And in 2019, another rover, called Minerva-II2, will join the club.
Next year, the Hayabusa2 tanker will come down to the surface of the asteroid to collect samples, which it will bring back to Earth sometime in 2020.
Email Hanneke Weitering at [email protected] or follow her @hannekescience. follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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