Japan’s space probe Hayabusa2 is set to conduct a flyby observation of the Torifune asteroid on Sunday evening, Japan time.
The flyby is part of the Hayabusa2 Extended Mission that began in 2020 after the spacecraft returned to Earth with a capsule containing sand and other samples collected from the Ryugu asteroid. The probe continues its space journey toward the next target asteroid, where it is expected to arrive in 2031.
The Hayabusa2 will approach Torifune on the way to its final destination and conduct a flyby exploration at around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Japan time.
During the flyby, the spacecraft is expected to reach as close as 800 meters from the center of Torifune, which is estimated to be several hundred meters in diameter.
Its camera is also expected to capture images of Torifune while traveling at a speed of 5 kilometers per second.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, says that in addition to capturing images during the flyby, it plans to obtain a range of science data.
The agency hopes to acquire the technology to control the probe precisely and maneuver it close to asteroids at high speed. The goal is to use this success to contribute to “Planetary Defense” efforts, which involve using probes to alter the trajectory of asteroids that may potentially collide with Earth in the future.