Hayabusa2 captures images of asteroid Torifune<\/h2>\n
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Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
The University of Aizu
National Institute of Technology, Oshima College
Kyoto Sangyo University
Tottori University of Environmental Studies
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Georgia Institute of Technology
Chiba Institute of Technology
The University of Tokyo
Nagoya University<\/p>\n
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\n \u2003The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully conducted a flyby of asteroid Torifune, the first asteroid exploration of the Hayabusa2 Extended Mission. On 5 July at 18:35 JST, the Hayabusa2 spacecraft was confirmed from ground communications to be operating normally.
\u2003We are pleased to share the following images and scientific data that were successfully obtained of asteroid Torifune.\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Asteroid Torifune imaged with the onboard Optical Navigation Camera \u2013Telescopic (ONC-T)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n \u00a9JAXA, The University of Tokyo, Chiba Institute of Technology, Institute of Science Tokyo, AIST, Paris Observatory, IAC.<\/span>
\n
\n ONC-T image details:
\u30fbCapture date & time: 2026\/07\/05 at 18:29:59 JST (preliminary estimate).
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\nAsteroid Torifune imaged with the onboard Thermal InfraRed Imager (TIR)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/global.jaxa.jp\/press\/2026\/07\/.\/images\/20260706-3-02.png\")
\u00a9JAXA, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Chiba Institute of Technology, The University of Aizu, Hokkaido University of Education, AIST<\/span>
\n
\nTIR image details:
\u30fb Capture date & time: 2026\/07\/05 at 18:29:58 JST (preliminary estimate).
\u30fb Distance to Torifune: approximately 10 km.<\/p>\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n\n \u2003The asteroid explorer Hayabusa2 was launched in December 2014 onboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 26. The mission explored asteroid Ryugu, delivering samples from Ryugu to Earth on 6 December 2020. Since then, the spacecraft returned to deep space on an Extended Mission. On 5 July 2026 at 18:30 JST (error margin: \u00b11 second), Hayabusa2 successfully performed a flyby of Torifune, the asteroid selected as the first exploration target of the Extended Mission. (Time is a preliminary estimate.)
\u2003Observations with the onboard scientific instruments began in mid-June with the Optical Navigation Camera \u2013 Telescopic (ONC-T), which directly imaged Torifune on June 20. Observations with the ONC-T then continued with the primary purpose to support optical-radio hybrid navigation for the spacecraft during the approach to Torifune. From about one hour before the closest approach, observations were also conducted using the NIRS3 (Near-Infrared Spectrometer), TIR (Thermal InfraRed Imager), and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) instruments. These observations continued until immediately before the closest approach to Torifune but could not be conducted after the spacecraft had passed the asteroid. At present, only part of the data acquired by the scientific instruments has been transmitted to Earth. The remaining data will be transmitted to the ground during future operations.\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nReference: Scientific instruments onboard Hayabusa2<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n \n\nAbbreviation<\/td>\n Name<\/td>\n Purpose<\/td>\n Specification<\/td>\n Exterior<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nONC-T<\/td>\n Optical Navigation Camera – Telescopic<\/td>\n Capturing astronomical photographs.
Acquiring navigation and scientific data.\n<\/td>\n \u30fbFoV 6.35\u00b0\u00d7 6.35\u00b0
\u30fbPixel count 1024\u00d71024\n<\/td>\n ![\"ONC-T](\"https:\/\/global.jaxa.jp\/press\/2026\/07\/.\/images\/20260706-3-03.jpg\")
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nTIR<\/td>\n Thermal InfraRed Imager<\/td>\n Measurement of the asteroid surface temperature, thermal inertia, surface roughness.<\/td>\n \u30fbFoV 16\u00b0\u00d712\u00b0
\u30fbObservation wavelength 8\u301c12\u03bcm
\u30fbPixel count 328\u00d7248\n<\/td>\n ![\"TIR](\"https:\/\/global.jaxa.jp\/press\/2026\/07\/.\/images\/20260706-3-04.jpg\")
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nNIRS3<\/td>\n Near-Infrared Spectrometer<\/td>\n Investigation of composition, presence of water or hydroxyl groups (-OH).<\/td>\n \u30fbFoV 0.1\u00b0
\u30fbObservation wavelength 1.8\u301c3.2\u03bcm
\u30fbWavelength resolution 20nm\n<\/td>\n ![\"NIRS3](\"https:\/\/global.jaxa.jp\/press\/2026\/07\/.\/images\/20260706-3-05.jpg\")
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nLIDAR<\/td>\n Light Detection and Ranging<\/td>\n Measurement of the distance to the asteroid.<\/td>\n \u30fbPulse YAG laser, wavelength 1.064\u03bcm.
\u30fbRange 30m\u301c25km\n<\/td>\n ![\"LIDAR](\"https:\/\/global.jaxa.jp\/press\/2026\/07\/.\/images\/20260706-3-06.jpg\")
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\n
\n ONC-T image details:
\u30fbCapture date & time: 2026\/07\/05 at 18:29:59 JST (preliminary estimate).
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Asteroid Torifune imaged with the onboard Thermal InfraRed Imager (TIR)<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n \u00a9JAXA, Maebashi Institute of Technology, Chiba Institute of Technology, The University of Aizu, Hokkaido University of Education, AIST<\/span>
\n
\nTIR image details:
\u30fb Capture date & time: 2026\/07\/05 at 18:29:58 JST (preliminary estimate).
\u30fb Distance to Torifune: approximately 10 km.<\/p>\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n\n \u2003The asteroid explorer Hayabusa2 was launched in December 2014 onboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 26. The mission explored asteroid Ryugu, delivering samples from Ryugu to Earth on 6 December 2020. Since then, the spacecraft returned to deep space on an Extended Mission. On 5 July 2026 at 18:30 JST (error margin: \u00b11 second), Hayabusa2 successfully performed a flyby of Torifune, the asteroid selected as the first exploration target of the Extended Mission. (Time is a preliminary estimate.)
\u2003Observations with the onboard scientific instruments began in mid-June with the Optical Navigation Camera \u2013 Telescopic (ONC-T), which directly imaged Torifune on June 20. Observations with the ONC-T then continued with the primary purpose to support optical-radio hybrid navigation for the spacecraft during the approach to Torifune. From about one hour before the closest approach, observations were also conducted using the NIRS3 (Near-Infrared Spectrometer), TIR (Thermal InfraRed Imager), and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) instruments. These observations continued until immediately before the closest approach to Torifune but could not be conducted after the spacecraft had passed the asteroid. At present, only part of the data acquired by the scientific instruments has been transmitted to Earth. The remaining data will be transmitted to the ground during future operations.\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nReference: Scientific instruments onboard Hayabusa2<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n \n\nAbbreviation<\/td>\n Name<\/td>\n Purpose<\/td>\n Specification<\/td>\n Exterior<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nONC-T<\/td>\n Optical Navigation Camera – Telescopic<\/td>\n Capturing astronomical photographs.
Acquiring navigation and scientific data.\n<\/td>\n \u30fbFoV 6.35\u00b0\u00d7 6.35\u00b0
\u30fbPixel count 1024\u00d71024\n<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nTIR<\/td>\n Thermal InfraRed Imager<\/td>\n Measurement of the asteroid surface temperature, thermal inertia, surface roughness.<\/td>\n \u30fbFoV 16\u00b0\u00d712\u00b0
\u30fbObservation wavelength 8\u301c12\u03bcm
\u30fbPixel count 328\u00d7248\n<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nNIRS3<\/td>\n Near-Infrared Spectrometer<\/td>\n Investigation of composition, presence of water or hydroxyl groups (-OH).<\/td>\n \u30fbFoV 0.1\u00b0
\u30fbObservation wavelength 1.8\u301c3.2\u03bcm
\u30fbWavelength resolution 20nm\n<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nLIDAR<\/td>\n Light Detection and Ranging<\/td>\n Measurement of the distance to the asteroid.<\/td>\n \u30fbPulse YAG laser, wavelength 1.064\u03bcm.
\u30fbRange 30m\u301c25km\n<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
\n
\nTIR image details:
\u30fb Capture date & time: 2026\/07\/05 at 18:29:58 JST (preliminary estimate).
\u30fb Distance to Torifune: approximately 10 km.<\/p>\n
<\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \u2003The asteroid explorer Hayabusa2 was launched in December 2014 onboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 26. The mission explored asteroid Ryugu, delivering samples from Ryugu to Earth on 6 December 2020. Since then, the spacecraft returned to deep space on an Extended Mission. On 5 July 2026 at 18:30 JST (error margin: \u00b11 second), Hayabusa2 successfully performed a flyby of Torifune, the asteroid selected as the first exploration target of the Extended Mission. (Time is a preliminary estimate.)
\u2003Observations with the onboard scientific instruments began in mid-June with the Optical Navigation Camera \u2013 Telescopic (ONC-T), which directly imaged Torifune on June 20. Observations with the ONC-T then continued with the primary purpose to support optical-radio hybrid navigation for the spacecraft during the approach to Torifune. From about one hour before the closest approach, observations were also conducted using the NIRS3 (Near-Infrared Spectrometer), TIR (Thermal InfraRed Imager), and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) instruments. These observations continued until immediately before the closest approach to Torifune but could not be conducted after the spacecraft had passed the asteroid. At present, only part of the data acquired by the scientific instruments has been transmitted to Earth. The remaining data will be transmitted to the ground during future operations.\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Reference: Scientific instruments onboard Hayabusa2<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n \n\nAbbreviation<\/td>\n Name<\/td>\n Purpose<\/td>\n Specification<\/td>\n Exterior<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nONC-T<\/td>\n Optical Navigation Camera – Telescopic<\/td>\n Capturing astronomical photographs.
Acquiring navigation and scientific data.\n<\/td>\n \u30fbFoV 6.35\u00b0\u00d7 6.35\u00b0
\u30fbPixel count 1024\u00d71024\n<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nTIR<\/td>\n Thermal InfraRed Imager<\/td>\n Measurement of the asteroid surface temperature, thermal inertia, surface roughness.<\/td>\n \u30fbFoV 16\u00b0\u00d712\u00b0
\u30fbObservation wavelength 8\u301c12\u03bcm
\u30fbPixel count 328\u00d7248\n<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nNIRS3<\/td>\n Near-Infrared Spectrometer<\/td>\n Investigation of composition, presence of water or hydroxyl groups (-OH).<\/td>\n \u30fbFoV 0.1\u00b0
\u30fbObservation wavelength 1.8\u301c3.2\u03bcm
\u30fbWavelength resolution 20nm\n<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nLIDAR<\/td>\n Light Detection and Ranging<\/td>\n Measurement of the distance to the asteroid.<\/td>\n \u30fbPulse YAG laser, wavelength 1.064\u03bcm.
\u30fbRange 30m\u301c25km\n<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n
| Abbreviation<\/td>\n | Name<\/td>\n | Purpose<\/td>\n | Specification<\/td>\n | Exterior<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| ONC-T<\/td>\n | Optical Navigation Camera – Telescopic<\/td>\n | Capturing astronomical photographs. Acquiring navigation and scientific data.\n<\/td>\n | \u30fbFoV 6.35\u00b0\u00d7 6.35\u00b0 \u30fbPixel count 1024\u00d71024\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| TIR<\/td>\n | Thermal InfraRed Imager<\/td>\n | Measurement of the asteroid surface temperature, thermal inertia, surface roughness.<\/td>\n | \u30fbFoV 16\u00b0\u00d712\u00b0 \u30fbObservation wavelength 8\u301c12\u03bcm \u30fbPixel count 328\u00d7248\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| NIRS3<\/td>\n | Near-Infrared Spectrometer<\/td>\n | Investigation of composition, presence of water or hydroxyl groups (-OH).<\/td>\n | \u30fbFoV 0.1\u00b0 \u30fbObservation wavelength 1.8\u301c3.2\u03bcm \u30fbWavelength resolution 20nm\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| LIDAR<\/td>\n | Light Detection and Ranging<\/td>\n | Measurement of the distance to the asteroid.<\/td>\n | \u30fbPulse YAG laser, wavelength 1.064\u03bcm. \u30fbRange 30m\u301c25km\n<\/td>\n | <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n \t\t<\/div>\n |