Hayabusa2 returns asteroid samples to Earth after fiery reentry

After a voyage of more than a year, the capsule carrying samples of the asteroid Ryugu collected by Japan’s Hayabusa2 deep-space probe has returned to Earth and has been recovered. On December 6 at 2:28 am JST, the re-entry capsule blazed a fiery path … Continue reading Hayabusa2 returns asteroid samples to Earth after fiery reentry

Crowd Funded Jumping Cubes

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) recently contributed their Int-Ball  technology to a Kickstarter campaign operated by the Japanese electronics manufacturer / distributor Bit Trade One (Japanese site). This technology is based on the Cubli project out of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich), which we …read more

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BepiColombo makes the first of two Venus flybys on its way to Mercury

The joint ESA-JAXA BepiColombo probe has successfully completed the first of two scheduled flybys of Venus. At 03:58 GMT (05:58 am CEST) today, the robotic spacecraft came to within 10,720 km (6,661 miles) of the planet’s surface in a slingshot maneuve… Continue reading BepiColombo makes the first of two Venus flybys on its way to Mercury

JAXA teams with GITAI for world-first private sector space robotics demo

Space robotics startup GITAI and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are teaming up to produce the world’s first robotics demonstration in space by a private company. The new agreement under the JAXA Space Innovation through Partnership and C… Continue reading JAXA teams with GITAI for world-first private sector space robotics demo

UAE successfully launches its first interplanetary mission to Mars

The United Arab Emirates has successfully launched its first interplanetary mission. This morning, Al Amal, or the Hope Probe, took off from Japan at 6:58 am Monday 20th July (local time), and is currently headed towards Mars.Continue ReadingCategory: … Continue reading UAE successfully launches its first interplanetary mission to Mars

New observations of Ryugu reveal the ancient asteroid’s colorful past

Japan’s Hayabusa 2 spacecraft is scheduled to arrive back on Earth later this year following a sample collection at asteroid Ryugu, but the mission is offering fascinating insights well ahead of its big return. Data collected by the probe during its hi… Continue reading New observations of Ryugu reveal the ancient asteroid’s colorful past

“Tidal waves” power super-fast rotation of Venus’ atmosphere

An international team of scientists led by Takeshi Horinouchi of Hokkaido University suggests that an atmospheric equivalent of tidal waves may be responsible for the super-rotation of the atmosphere of Venus. Based on data returned by JAXA’s Akatsuki … Continue reading “Tidal waves” power super-fast rotation of Venus’ atmosphere