小惑星探査機「はやぶさ」の過去・現在・未来

抄録

In this paper, the history of Hayabusa project is summarized. The major objective of Hayabusamission is to verify and demonstrate technologies inevitable for future solar system exploration missions suchas sample return from asteroids and comets. Being propelled by ion engines, Hayabusa performed Earthswingby one year after its perfect launch in 2003, and approached its target, asteroid Itokawa in 2005. After twomonths rendezvous flight, Hayabusa landed twice on the surface of Itokawa. The spacecraft overcame severemalfunctions happened during its final take-off, and we expect it will return to Earth in 2010.