Program archive

Robotic asteroid sample-return mission

Robotic asteroid sample-return mission is explored here through 2 archived missions, from Hayabusa through Hayabusa2, with the program’s spacecraft, people, milestones, and source-backed history connected along the way.

Missions: 2
People: 0
Vehicles: 2

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Robotic asteroid sample-return mission missions

Every archived Robotic asteroid sample-return mission mission, in launch order.

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HayabusaMay 9, 2003Completed with successful sample returnRoboticAsteroid 25143 Itokawa and EarthRendezvous with Itokawa, map its shape and composition, demonstrate ion propulsion and autonomous touchdowns, collect surface material, and return it to Earth.

Hayabusa2December 3, 2014Active extended mission to asteroid 1998 KY26RoboticAsteroid Ryugu, Earth, and asteroid 1998 KY26Study carbon-rich Ryugu from orbit and on its surface, expose subsurface material with an impactor, return multiple samples to Earth, and reuse the spacecraft for further asteroid encounters.