[meteorite-list] Hayabusa 2 Update - December 5, 2014

[Ron Baalke]

http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2014/12/20141205_hayabusa2.html

Asteroid Explorer "Hayabusa2"
Completion of Critical Operation Phase

December 5, 2014 (JST)

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) confirmed the completion 
of a sequence of the important operations for the Asteroid Exploration 
"Hayabusa2" mission including the deployment of the horn part of the sampler 
that captures samples from the asteroid's surface, the release of the 
locks for the launch that ratchet the gimbal that controls the direction 
of the ion engine, and functional verification of the three-axis stabilization 
controls and the ground precision orbit determination system. With this 
confirmation, the critical operation phase* of the Hayabusa2 was completed.

The sampler horn deployment was confirmed by images taken by the onboard 
small monitor camera that was manufactured and loaded onto the Hayabusa2 
thanks to donations for the Hayabusa2 mission from many of you. We would 
like to express our deepest gratitude to all of you again.
(Please refer to the attachment for the images.)

The explorer is now in a stable condition.

The explorer will move to the initial functional verification operation 
phase to verify the function of the satellite onboard instruments for 
about three months.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all parties and personnel 
concerned for their support and cooperation with the Hayabusa2 launch 
and tracking control operations. In addition, we would also like to ask 
for your continued cooperation and support for the long-term Hayabusa2 
space exploration mission.

*1 Critical operation phase
The critical operation phase is a period from the separation from the 
launch vehicle till the establishment of the stable operation in space 
including the deployment of the solar array paddles and verification of 
the attitude control system and tracking and control facility functions.