Japanese space probe over asteroid during planetary defense test

A hayabusa2 probe, the size of a refrigerator, was to pass less than 800 meters from the Toriphune asteroid, as previously indicated scientists from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The goal was to verify that such a ship could in future contribute to diverting a potentially dangerous asteroid to Earth.

This mission arises after NASA deliberately collided in 2022 with a spacecraft against the 160-metre-wide Dimorphos asteroid, successfully altering its orbit around a larger asteroid.

Hayabusa2, which moved more than 18,000 kilometers an hour, was not meant to collide with the Toriphune.

Scientists intended, rather, to evaluate their ability to accurately control the probe's trajectory if it had to one day perform a diversion maneuver.

“ At 18:35 (09:35 GMT), Hayabusa2 flew over the Torifune and the probe is functioning normally,” said a spokesman for JAXA to the France-Presse Agency, who preferred to remain anonymous.

Images released online by the Japanese agency showed scientists applauding in a control room.

“I was nervous, completely tense (...), but I’m very glad we managed to get this operation through,” said one of the scientists during the transmission of JAXA.

If it is confirmed that the probe effectively passed less than 800 metres from Torifune, this mission would constitute one of the closest approaches ever to an asteroid near Earth.

The cameras aboard Hayabusa2 also record data on the asteroid's surface, including its geographical characteristics, texture and temperature, crucial information for a possible planetary defense mission.

“ In view of the diversity of the crossing asteroids with the Earth (near Earth, NDLR) in terms of size, shape, surface and internal properties, each new image allows us to be better prepared,” said Patrick Michel, a scientist at the European Space Agency.

Launched in 2014, Hayabusa2 has already amazed scientists by landing on the Ryugu asteroid, located about 300 million kilometres from our planet, to collect samples.

After the Torifune mission, the probe should try, in 2031, a ‘rendez-vous’ – a maneuver consisting of flying nearby or landing on an asteroid to collect detailed data – with another asteroid called 1998KY26.