A Japanese spacecraft completed a close flyby of a near-Earth asteroid on Sunday as part of a technology test aimed at protecting the planet from potential impacts. The compact Hayabusa2 probe passed within about 800 meters of asteroid Torifune, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The maneuver served as a trial to determine whether a probe could steer a hazardous object away from Earth. This effort follows NASA’s 2022 collision with the Dimorphos asteroid, which successfully changed its orbit. Hayabusa2 traveled at over 18,000 kilometers per hour but was not meant to strike Torifune. Instead, the goal was to verify precise trajectory control for any future deflection needs. JAXA confirmed the flyby occurred at 6:35 p.m. local time and reported the spacecraft remained operational. Footage showed team members celebrating in the control room. Scientists described the operation as highly challenging, comparable to threading a coin across Japan’s length. Onboard cameras collected data on the asteroid’s surface features, texture, and temperature. Experts noted that such details are essential for planning impact-based defenses, as an asteroid’s response varies depending on whether it is solid rock or loosely packed material. The mission does not respond to any current threat. Hayabusa2 previously collected samples from asteroid Ryugu and returned them to Earth. It is now scheduled to approach another asteroid in 2031. Researchers emphasized that each new observation improves readiness given the variety of near-Earth objects.
