In a pioneering move echoing NASA’s recent endeavors, Japan’s space agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is poised to test technology aimed at altering the orbit of two distant asteroids using its Hayabusa 2 probe. While JAXA has not officially confirmed the intention to change the course of the asteroids, experts speculate that this groundbreaking feat could unfold at the conclusion of the Hayabusa 2 mission.
Hayabusa 2 Mission Highlights:
Launched in December 2014, the Hayabusa 2 spacecraft made history when it successfully touched down on asteroid Ryugu in February 2019. After delivering precious asteroid samples to Earth in 2020, the spacecraft embarked on a new mission. It is currently en route to rendezvous with asteroid 2001 CC21 in 2026, followed by a planned encounter with the fast-rotating asteroid 1998 KY26 in 2031.
Objective and Significance:
The target, asteroid 1998 KY26, boasts a diameter of approximately 30 meters and belongs to the category of ‘fast-rotating asteroids,’ completing a full rotation around the sun every 10 minutes. JAXA emphasizes that several asteroids of similar size exist, raising concerns about potential collisions with Earth in the future. Testing deflection technology using the Hayabusa 2 probe could serve as a crucial step in devising strategies to safeguard against potential threats, preventing catastrophic scenarios.
Parallel Initiatives:
In a parallel initiative, NASA executed the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission on November 24, 2021. The mission successfully collided with the 530-feet-wide asteroid Dimorphos on September 26, 2022. Dimorphos, a small Moonlet of the larger asteroid Didymos, experienced a significant alteration in its orbit—changing by 30 minutes. NASA views this as a success and envisions the potential application of similar technology on a larger scale to protect Earth from potential planet-killing asteroids.
As space agencies worldwide delve into asteroid deflection technologies, these endeavors represent significant strides in humanity’s ability to mitigate potential cosmic threats.
