162173 Ryugu

Tiny Fragments of a 4-Billion Year Old Asteroid Reveal Its History

In June 2018, Japan's Hayabusa 2 mission reached asteroid 162173 Ryugu. It studied the asteroid for about 15 months, deploying…

3 weeks ago

Why are Rubble Pile Asteroids Shaped Like Diamonds?

Scientists are fortunate enough to have detailed, close-up views of the near-Earth asteroids Bennu and Ryugu. Both asteroids have a…

3 years ago

Japan’s Hayabusa 2 Probe Drops Off Bits of an Asteroid and Heads for Its Next Target

Japan's Hayabusa 2 probe zoomed past Earth on December 5th and dropped off a capsule containing bits of an asteroid,…

4 years ago

It’s Time for Hayabusa-2 to Come Home

Japan's Hayabusa 2 spacecraft is on its way home. The asteroid-visiting, sample-return mission departed asteroid Ryugu (162173 Ryugu) on Wednesday,…

5 years ago

Hayabusa 2 Has Sent its Last Rover to Ryugu

Japan's Hayabusa 2 mission to asteroid Ryugu has reached one of its final milestones, if not its climax. The sample-return…

5 years ago

Hayabusa 2 has one Last Lander it’s Going to Throw at Ryugu

JAXA recently released photos of their Hayabusa2 mission deploying target markers to the surface of the asteroid Ryugu.

5 years ago

Asteroid Ryugu is a “Fragile Rubble Pile”

When Japan's Hayabusa 2 spacecraft arrived at asteroid Ryugu in June 2018, it carried four small rovers with it. Hayabusa…

5 years ago

Here’s the Video of Hayabusa2 Bombing Asteroid Ryugu

Japan's recently shared a video of the crater their Hayabusa2 spacecraft created on the surface of Ryugu.

6 years ago

Hayabusa2 Fires an Anti-Tank Warhead at Asteroid Ryugu

Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft recently struck the asteroid Ryugu with an explosive payload, which will help it collect samples that could…

6 years ago

Hayabusa2 Left a Dark Spot Where it Touched Down on Ryugu. Engineers Aren’t Sure Why

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft left its mark on asteroid Ryugu, which mission controllers noticed after the spacecraft touched down on the…

6 years ago