Hayabusa - The Return To Earth, The voyage home Options

[odave]

...starting a new thread for Hayabusa's sampling feedback and the return voyage.

After its nail-biting success in November, will there be enough fuel for the Falcon to make it home?

[ElkGroveDan]

...starting a new thread for Hayabusa's sampling feedback and the return voyage.

... are we there yet?

[RNeuhaus]

Recent News from Matsuura Newspaper
2005.11.28
" It is quick the ぶ, link ": Finishing the landing mission,

According to the communication from JAXA public information, the pattern which also use of 28 days spends to the return from safe mode. Establishing three axial control, using the high gain antenna, when landing those where it downloads the data which you acquire are after the tomorrow 29 day. The data being analyzed, to reach to publication, furthermore several days will be needed.

It is quick, the ぶ, the predecessor unexplored mission which is called landing and soil sample collection to the asteroid was completed. The last distance which from now on is directed to the earth starts, but the reaction wheel 3 middle 2 bases are broken, the thrusters which become substitution the propellant remaining amount are few. Probably become also road and with difficult ones. It is something which prays the collection success of of safety of road and the reentry capsule which rounds off the mission.

This article is still unclear to me. It seems like that Falcon will be acquainted within 28 days from Safe mode to active mode before returning home...That means that Falcon will start pack its bag to return home by December 24.

Rodolfo

[ElkGroveDan]

This article is still unclear to me. It seems like that Falcon will be acquainted within 28 days from Safe mode to active mode before returning home...That means that Falcon will start pack its bag to return home by December 24.

Rodolfo

I think they were talking about the 28th and 29th days of this month; i.e. November 28th and November 29th.

They have to be on the road home by December 10th or sooner.

Here's an easier article at Space.com Japan's Asteroid Probe to Head Home Despite Glitch

[RNeuhaus]

According to the article of the space.com. By December 10, JAXA team will decide one of two possibles ways to return home: By accompanying the Asteroide Itokawa for 2 years until it crosses close to Earth's orbit before leaving Itokawa.

We will meet that deadline, whatever happens,'' Matogawa said. Otherwise, it would be two more years before the probe _ orbiting the sun between Earth and Mars together with the asteroid _ would be in the right position to return, he said.

or by traveling alone back home for one year and half or later in a route clock's wise to Earth orbit before arriving at Australia.

Rodolfo

[mike]

It would certainly be interesting if Hayabusa followed Itokawa for all that time.. In all likelihood Itokawa doesn't do much of anything as it tumbles around, but who knows, eh? If nothing else I'm sure they would obtain more detailed imagery. They could manuever Hayabusa such that Itokawa was between it and the Sun most of the journey, which would have to provide substantial protection from solar radiation, the most likely hazard when spending time near the Sun (gotta be, right?). Then again, another six months, and if Hayabusa is disabled, that's it, and how interesting is Itokawa, really?

Perhaps they will flip a coin..

[Joffan]

I'm not sure that sitting in Itokawa's shadown would be a great idea for keeping the batteries charged...

It's pretty remarkable how little difference it makes in time though, between powering home and just drifting along with Itokawa.

[mike]

Yeah, I remembered the solar panels need some solar radiation after I posted that.. Half-in-shadow, half-out-of-shadow, then!

[Ishigame]

I would tell you some bad news…
JAXA says Hayabusa has troubled with both of main/backup thrusters.
Main thruster system could turn to ice, the other one have leaked.
Now they are holding press conference now.

According to Matsuura's Blog.
http://smatsu.air-nifty.com/lbyd/2005/11/3_dc16.html

Now we can read translations. Thank you a lot, nao.

[odave]

Good translation! Worrying news, though. The main thruster system is obstructed, the backup system leaks, and they don't have attitude control. Which prevents them from using Hayabusa's HGA, and communications with the other antennae have been spotty.



Here are some snippets:

Kawaguchi:We tried to recover from the safe mode in operation via DSN at 26th night and Usuta on 27th, but the remaining system-A thrusters did not generate enough propulsion force. So we failed to restore the attitude control.

It seems that some trouble in valve may cause obstruction, or the pipes may be frozen.
[...]
Looking at current situation, we think it takes considerable time for recovery.
[...]
We now will concentrate our efforts on recovery of attitude control as the top priority.

But...

Fuel remains enough and the pressure is proper.
[...]
Unknown: Must the vehicle leave Itokawa by the beginning of December? How long can it be extended?

Kawaguchi: We can extend it to the mid of December, if it has only to return.

So they have a little time to play with. Good luck, guys!

[nop]

Sorry for multi-posting.

If your friends are working in NASA/JPL, please show them this message:
"Hayabusa needs help"
http://5thstar.air-nifty.com/blog/2005/11/...usa_needs_.html

We need to make use of NASA 70m parabola for recovery of Hayabusa.
Though we understand this is a selfish request, we can't help asking for your support.




Anyway,

So they have a little time to play with. Good luck, guys!

We have always been encouraged by posts in this forum. We appreciate your posts!
I hope your cheers will touch the JAXA teams and Hayabusa itself

FYI: In Japan, the ad of LIPOVITAN-D symbolizes overcoming and conquest of various troubles. Good luck.

[odave]

I do not mean this to sound rude, but aren't there more direct communications channels between the Japanese and US space programs, rather than hoping that someone on an Internet board will send the message through?

I think 5thstar is a fan, just like us, sending out a personal plea. No doubt JAXA/ISAS are going through whatever official channels they use for DSN access - heck, they probably have them on speed dial

[Orlin Denkov]

Probe returning to Earth after asteroid landing
Alok Jha
Monday November 28, 2005
The Japanese space probe Hayabusa began its journey home yesterday after becoming the first spacecraft to successfully land on an asteroid and collect samples.

Guardian Unlimited

What can we say about the level of credibility of the information provided above.
I wish it would be true... Hope that troubles are surmountable.

[TheChemist]

Probably not good things

There are two press releases for Nov29 at the Jaxa site (in japanese only, so far) with several images and graphs:
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2005/11/20051129_...busa_td2_j.html babelfish
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2005/11/20051129_hayabusa_j.html babelfish

Edit : A small piece of the 2nd document appeared in english :
http://www.hayabusa.isas.jaxa.jp/e/index.html

[nop]

Dear 5thstar (if you read this forum), ljk4-1, odave and other guys,

Very sorry for my misleading post. I posted it just as a fan feeling a sympathy for 5thstar's message and I also believe that Prof. Kawaguchi is already doing what to do.

Anyway, sorry if you felt unpleasant, and thank you for your kind replies.