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Japanese probe set for super-close flyby on July 5: 'We're going to discover another beast to put in the zoo of asteroids'
space.com
Japan’s Hayabusa2 probe will fly very close to an asteroid. This happens on July 5. The asteroid is named Torifune. The spacecraft is only a few kilometers away. This is a very close pass. Hayabusa2 has worked well for many years. It launched in 2014. It visited asteroid Ryugu before. It brought rocks back to Earth. Now it has a new mission.
The team does not know much about Torifune. It was found in 2001. The asteroid moves very fast. The probe must be careful. Scientists are nervous. They did not plan for this exact flyby. The object’s shape is a mystery. It might be two rocks stuck together. Patrick Michel leads the science team. He is excited to learn more.
This flight tests quick imaging skills. Scientists need to take photos fast. This helps plan future safety missions. We must know if asteroids can hit Earth. The probe will capture images quickly. It will study the asteroid’s surface. This data helps us understand space.