JAXA announced this morning, February 22, that the space probe Hayabusa II had successfully landed the planetoid Ryugu. The probe had switched to automatic maneuvering at 500 meters above the surface and descended to 50 meters above at 7:00, whereafter the built-in sensor measured out its height and position to guide the way down.

The Control Center confirmed the one-meter long rock collecter installed underneath had successfully shot the bullet past 8:00.

The space probe is scheduled to once ascend to 20 thousand kilos above the surface of the planetoid and repeat landing two or three times.

Earlier this morning at midnight through 8:00 on, NHK demonstrated live a dramatic show 300 million kilos away in space of the space probe Hayabusa II making a gradual descent targeting the surface of the Ryugu with a distance measure alongside indicate the probe’s seamless movement downward. It was a fantastic stage show, as it were, demonstrating NHK’s impressive technical expertise.

Hayabusa is a falcon and so far two generations of space probe so named have been commissioned. The former, Hayabusa I, is still remembered by its thrilling journey to and from the Ryugu, bring home fine particles of dust from the planetoid. The latter, Hayabusa II, is currently attempting to blast the surface of the planetoid and bring solid rock pieces home.

This is Hayabusa II’s second attempt to touchdown, it’s first having failed last October due to the ruggedness of the surface of the planetoid. The touchdown complete, we are but to await a successful rock collecting mission and the probe’s heroic flight home.

—Sponsered Link—