http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/topics/2010/0517.shtmlHayabusa Captured its Home Earth!
Hayabusa successfully photographed its home Earth and Moon on May 12th last week, by using the CCD sensor on the Star Tracker instrument aboard.
The Earth was seen so brightly that the image contained strong smear in it, but the image clearly separates the Moon from the Earth. (Magnitude of the Earth is -8.3, and that of Moon is -4.6.)
The Earth was seen between Sagittarius and Capricornus.
Hayabusa will continue to voyage back to Earth at the speed of 18 thousand kilometer per hour.
http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/hayabusa-live/2010/05/23 07:37:28: Started TCM-2
JAXA would like to announce that TCM-2 operation has commenced.
It will take around 100 hours for ion thrusters to accelerate.
Hayabusa system is going well.
*TCM: Trajectory Correction Maneuver
2010/05/23 09:00:00: Today’s Hayabusa
Hayabusa is currently 9,156,450 km away from the Earth, located at 8h34m50s RA and
30.03 deg DEC (Constellation of Cancer), as of 00:00:00 UT, 23 May 2010.
From Hayabusa’s point of view,
the Earth can be seen in a direction of Microscopium
http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/hayabusa-live/?itemid=498&catid=342010/05/27 04:59 JST: TCM-2 operation was completed
JAXA confirmed that TCM-2 operation was successfully completed.
By this operation, Hayabusa was guided to the outer rim of the Earth
and the distance between Hayabusa and the Earth resulted in around
7,600,000km far.
Hayabusa sysytem is going well.
*TCM: Trajectory Correction Maneuver
Nail biting time ahead,,,capsule separation and parachute deploy. ( Looks like TCM4 is optional/fine trim within the WPA )
Any idea about the ETA?- could not find it from the JAXA site, though it says TCM3 is around 7days ahead of reentry.
Any idea about the ETA?- could not find it from the JAXA site, though it says TCM3 is around 7days ahead of reentry.
1400 UTC on June 13th according to the presser from April and per post one page up:
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/04/20100421_hayabusa_e.htmlSome details about the planned entry flight path angle, speed, expected g-loads or the like would be cool ...?
Asteroid Explore "HAYABUSA" (MUSES-C)
Completed TCM-4 operation, precise guidance to WPA
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) would like to announce that TCM-4 operation was successfully completed (15:00 June 9th, 2010 (JST)). By this operation, Hayabusa spacecraft was precisely guided to WPA in Australia.
Hayabusa system is going well.
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/06/20100609_hayabusa_e.htmlDuration was 2 hours 30 minutes for ion thrusters to accelerate.
That's what's called being committed.
Hayabusa is due to return on Sunday to Australia. Does anyone know its ground track be as it heads towards central Australia. If it comes in over the Indian Ocean could it be seen from Perth WA ?
Hayabusa is due to return on Sunday to Australia. Does anyone know its ground track be as it heads towards central Australia. If it comes in over the Indian Ocean could it be seen from Perth WA ?
Link below.
http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/hayabusa/trj.shtmlThere was some chatter on Twitter that it would be difficult to observe. Note the landing time is about 11:30pm local so it will be coming in the dark.
Apparently there will be at least an attempt to get live video at the site below:
http://airborne.seti.org/hayabusa/I'll be watching with bated breath! Go Hayabusa!
This is why I love space exploration (manned, womanned, or unmanned):
The most important missions are always those on the bleeding edge of the possible, in spite of every attempt to make everything as flawless as possible. Just amazing.
Go JAXA!
