Press conference after the return of
the asteroid explorer, Hayabusa2,re-entry capsule
2020/12/6
JAXA Hayabusa2 ProjectHayabusa2 capsule separation operation
The re-entry capsule separation was performed asscheduled and the re-entry capsule, parachute, andheat shield were all recovered.
The spacecraft succeeding in leaving the Earth’s
sphere and entered an orbit that moves away from theEarth. We also began observations with the onboard
science instruments.

2020/12/6

Hayabusa2 Press Conference2

Summary of capsule separation 1
Spacecraft-relatedEventTimeJSTEarth distance(altitude)

Permission obtained from the CRSOCommonwealth Return SafelyOfficer) to execute TCM-5.

12/5 11:40

Capsule separation

12/5 14:30

220,000 km

TCM-5Trajectory control maneuver for Earth departure1st time

12/5 15:30

207,000 km

2nd time

12/5 16:00

198,000 km

3rd time

12/5 16:30

190,000 km

Spacecraft, enters shadow

12/6 1:56

110,000 km

Spacecraft, exit shadow

12/6 2:31

About 350 km

Communication resumes after broken link due to Earth proximity

12/6 3:15

190,000 km

2020/12/6

Hayabusa2 Press Conference

3Summary of capsule separation 2Capsule related

EventTime (JST)Confirmation of light emission from the capsule

12/6 2:29

Reception of beacon radio waves from the capsule

12/6 2:32

Direction search for the capsule beacon radio waves from the field survey stations

12/6 2:54

Estimation of capsule landing site by directional search

12/6 3: 07

Discover capsule and parachute by helicopter search

12/6 4:47

Capsule collection work begins at landing site

12/6 6:23

Capsule collection work is completed at landing site

12/6 7:32

Helicopter carrying the capsule arrives at the local headquarters and the capsuleis carried into the building

12/6 8:03

Front heat shield discovered by helicopter search

12/6 11:13

Rear heat shield discovered by helicopter search

12/6 12:31

Transportation of rear and front heat shields to local headquarters

12/6 13:38

2020/12/6

Hayabusa2 Press Conference4Summary of spacecraft operation from launchTotal flight time of spacecraft 2195 days 2194d 13hr 32m• Launch2014/12/3 Wed.13:22:04• Capsule landingdirectional search 2020/12/6 2:54

Total flight distance5,240 million km• Outbound3.1 billion km• Asteroid vicinity. 1.32 billion km• Return820 million km

2020/12/6

Hayabusa2 Press Conference

5Observation of the re-entry capsule fireball 2020/12/6

Fireball taken from Coober Pedy
Hayabusa2 Press Conference

6Observation ofthe re-entry
capsule fireballFireball taken from Coober Pedy 2020/12/6

Hayabusa2 Press Conference

7Observation of the re-entry capsule fireball 2020/12/6

Fireball taken from Coober Pedy
Hayabusa2 Press Conference

8Observation of the re-entry capsule fireball 2020/12/6

Fireball taken from Coober PedyHayabusa2 Press Conference

9Observation of the re-entry capsule fireball   
2020/12/6

Fireball taken from Coober Pedy
Hayabusa2 Press Conference

10Discovery of re-entry capsule 2020/12/6

Hayabusa2 Press Conference

11Discovery of re-entry capsule 2020/12/6

Hayabusa2 Press Conference

12Discovery of re-entry capsule 2020/12/6

Hayabusa2 Press Conference

13Discovery of re-entry capsule 2020/12/6

Hayabusa2 Press Conference

14Discovery of re-entry capsule 2020/12/6

Hayabusa2 Press Conference

15

Imaging with ONC-W2: “Earth, I’m home”
Australia, taken 2 minutes before theclosest approach to EarthDistribution of city lights at the same time

Adelaide

Capsule expectedlanding area

2020/12/6 at 2:29 JST

2020/12/6 at 2:29 JST
Credit: JAXA, Chiba Institute of Technology, University of Tokyo, Kochi University, Rikkyo
University, Nagoya University, Meiji University, University of Aizu, AIST

2020/12/6

Credit: Chiba Institute of Technology (created with JAXA/ISAS/C-SODA FLOW)

Hayabusa2 Press Conference

16

Imaging with ONC-W2: “Earth, I’m home”
Australia, taken 2 minutes before theclosest approach to EarthDistribution of city lights at the same time

2020/12/6 at 2:29 JST

2020/12/6 at 2:29 JST

Credit: JAXA, Chiba Institute of Technology, University of Tokyo, Kochi University, Rikkyo
University, Nagoya University, Meiji University, University of Aizu, AIST

2020/12/6

Credit: Chiba Institute of Technology (created with JAXA/ISAS/C-SODA FLOW)

Hayabusa2 Press Conference

17Imaging with ONC-TEarth, I’m going
Earth color image immediately afterreconnecting• Distance to Earth center: 88, 000 km• Time: 12/6 (Sun.) 6:30am JST
Approx. 4 hours after closest approach toEarth• South pole is visible on the upper-right of thescreen, the west coast of South America is atthe top.
Image courtesy of JAXA, AIST, University of Tokyo, Kochi University, Rikkyo University,Nagoya University, Chiba Institute of Technology, Meiji University, University of Aizu

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Hayabusa2 Press Conference18

Imaging with ONC-TEarth, I’m going
Earth color image immediately after restart• Distance to Earth center: 130, 000 km• Time: 12/6 (Sun.) 9:00am JST
Approx. 6.5 hours after closest approach toEarth• Australia appears towards the lower-left, and theequator crosses the center of the screen from leftto right. A row of clouds can be seen above andbelow the more cloud-free equatorial zone
Image courtesy of JAXA, AIST, University of Tokyo, Kochi University, Rikkyo University,Nagoya University, Chiba Institute of Technology, Meiji University, University of Aizu

2020/12/6

Hayabusa2 Press Conference

19Imaging with ONC-TEarth, I’m going
Earth vegetation image immediately after restart• Distance to Earth center: 130, 000 km• Time: 12/6 (Sun.) 9:00am JST
Approx. 6.5 hours after closest approach toEarth• Australia appears towards the lower-left, and theequator crosses the center of the screen from left
to right. A row of clouds can be seen above andbelow the more cloud-free equatorial zone
Image courtesy of JAXA, AIST, University of Tokyo, Kochi University, Rikkyo University,Nagoya University, Chiba Institute of Technology, Meiji University, University of Aizu

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Hayabusa2 Press Conference20