Chapter 6 - Hayabusa2 reentry and recovery operations of the sample return capsule

Abstract

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency developed and operated the asteroid sample return mission Hayabusa2 which is the world's second asteroid sample return mission. The sample from the asteroid was collected and the spacecraft came back to Earth in December 2020. In the reentry phase, several trajectory correction maneuvers of the spacecraft were made and the sample return capsule was released to the exact reentry trajectory at a distance of 220,000km from Earth. After the release, the spacecraft escaped from the trajectory and passed by Earth. The capsule was successfully landed as planned in Woomera Prohibited Area in Australia on December 5, 2020. The capsule was promptly found using a beacon signal. Optical observation, marine radar, C-band radar, and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle also worked well for recovery. After the gas collection in the sample container, the capsule including its asteroid sample was quickly and carefully transported to the Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center in Sagamihara, Japan. Hayabusa2 has succeeded in returning the sample from a C-type asteroid, and this paper introduces the results of reentry and recovery operations mainly focusing on engineering achievements.