Elizabeth Taskerelizabethtasker@mastodon.online
Jul 5, 2026, 10:03 AMHayabusa2 has performed the Torifune flyby, and on July 5 at 18:35 JST, ground control confirmed that the spacecraft is operating normally.
Replies
Thomas Sturmtsturm@famichiki.jpJul 5, 2026, 10:53 AM@elizabethtasker Do we know how close the flyby was? I don’t know if there would be any instrument on board to provide actual measurements at these speeds.
- Elizabeth Taskerelizabethtasker@mastodon.onlineJul 5, 2026, 10:57 AM
@tsturm The plan was 800m from the asteroid centre. I don't think that will have changed, so I believe the main uncertainty will be the shape of Torifune, which will determine the distance from the surface.
- Elizabeth Taskerelizabethtasker@mastodon.onlineJul 5, 2026, 10:57 AM
@tsturm I think LIDAR was going to be attempted, but they'll have to download all the data.
- Thomas Sturmtsturm@famichiki.jpJul 5, 2026, 11:11 AM
@elizabethtasker It’s probably another peanut-shaped thing… the solar system’s planets must have come in a giant box and we now find those packing peanuts all over the place. 😅