“Hayabusa 2” attitude change to test operation of the main engine November 19, 14:11
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced that the Japanese spacecraft “Hayabusa 2”, which departed from the asteroid for the Earth, has changed its attitude to test the main engine.
The Japanese spacecraft “Hayabusa 2” has completed the exploration for about one and a half years, including two successful landings to collect the rocks of the asteroid “Ryugu”. , Was slowly moving away.
In order to test the main engine ion engine, JAXA started operation around 10am on the 19th and changed its attitude to direct the Hayabusa2 solar panel toward the sun. .
“Hayabusa 2” will be a test operation to start the ion engine for the first time in about one and a half years from the 20th. Planned to start flying.
Next, we plan to separate capsules that appear to contain rock fragments of “Ryugu” from November to December next year and drop them into the Australian desert.