JAXA named the mission and spacecraft sent to the asteroid Hayabusa2.
Hayabusa2 launched on 3 December 2014 and reached the asteroid on 27 June 2018. Scientists surveyed the asteroid for several months before selecting a landing zone for the rovers.
Part of Hayabusa2’s payload is four rovers: three Minerva-II rovers, and a Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) rover.
The Minerva-II rovers were developed by JAXA and the University of Aizu, and two of the rovers have been deployed to the surface of the asteroid. They move around by hopping, and are taking pictures of Ryugu and sending them back to Earth via Hyabusa2.
After launching MASCOT, the Hayabusa2 will descend close to the surface of Ryugu, where it will collect surface samples from the asteroid using a device called a “sampling horn.”
Later, it will deploy an explosive kinetic impactor and create a new crater on Ryugu. Hayabusa2 will then descend again to collect subsurface samples.
Hayabusa2 is scheduled to leave Ryugu in December 2019 and return to Earth, arriving in December 2020.
【MINERVA-Ⅱ1】
— 小惑星探査機「はやぶさ２」 (@haya2_jaxa) September 21, 2018
Heeeeeeere weeeeee cooooome!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/Ppcjr40SgG
This is a picture from MINERVA-II1. The color photo was captured by Rover-1A on September 21 around 13:08 JST, immediately after separation from the spacecraft. Hayabusa2 is top and Ryugu's surface is below. The image is blurred because the rover is spinning. #asteroidlanding pic.twitter.com/CeeI5ZjgmM
— HAYABUSA2@JAXA (@haya2e_jaxa) September 22, 2018
This dynamic photo was captured by Rover-1A on September 22 at around 11:44 JST. It was taken on Ryugu's surface during a hop. The left-half is the surface of Ryugu, while the white region on the right is due to sunlight. (Hayabusa2 Project) pic.twitter.com/IQLsFd4gJu
— HAYABUSA2@JAXA (@haya2e_jaxa) September 22, 2018
