HAYABUSA2@JAXAVarmennettu tili

[TD1-L08E1] This morning (Feb 20), the touchdown operation began! Today, we are preparing for the spacecraft to descend, which is an operation involving just a few people. The descent begins tomorrow (Feb 21)!

[TD1 - L08E1] We began the spacecraft descent operation today (2/21) at 06:30 JST. At the moment, we are still in the judgment phase of deciding whether to begin descent and the spacecraft remains at the home position at an altitude of 20km. The spacecraft’s condition is normal.

[TD1 - L08E1] Today (2/21) 12: 36 (JST), the decision to begin the touchdown operation was declared as "GO". While the descent start time is delayed about 5 hours, the speed to 5km altitude will be increased slightly so there is no change to the scheduled time for touchdown.

[TD1-L08E1] On February 21 at 13:45 JST, the Doppler data confirms that the spacecraft had started to descend. The descent speed was about 90 cm/s. This is swifter than the scheduled 40 cm/s, as the delay in the descent start time meant we increased the descent speed.

[TD1-L08E1] On February 21 at 16:00 JST, the altitude of the spacecraft (distance from Ryugu) was about 12 km. The altitude is decreasing smoothly.

[TD1-L08E1] Today’s ground station operations was from the US Goldstone station until dawn, then to Usuda station and after that it moved across to Canberra and now operation is from Madrid. Check out Haya2NOW to see who we’re talking through! http://haya2now.jp/