Infrasound/seismic observation of the Hayabusa reentry: Observations and preliminary results

Abstract

The Hayabusa, the world’s first sample-return minor body explorer, returned to the Earth, and reentered the Earth’s atmosphere on June 13, 2010. Multi-site ground observations of the Hayabusa reentry were carried out in the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA), Australia. The ground observations were configured with optical imaging with still and video recordings, spectroscopies, and shockwave detection with infrasound and seismic sensors. At three main stations, we installed small aperture infrasound/seismic arrays, as well as three single component seismic sub stations. The infrasound and seismic sensors clearly recorded sonic-boom-type shockwaves from the Hayabusa Sample Return Capsule (H-SRC) and the disrupted fragments of the Hayabusa Spacecraft (H-S/C) itself. Positive overpressure values of shockwaves (corresponding to the H-SRC) recorded at the three main stations were 1.3 Pa, 1.0 Pa, and 0.7 Pa with slant distances of 36.9 km, 54.9 km, and 67.8 km, respectively. Incident vectors of the shockwave from the H-SRC at all three arrays are estimated by an F-K spectrum and agree well with those predicted. Particle motions of ground motions excited by the shockwave show characteristics of a typical Rayleigh wave.