Japan may extend Hayabusa2 asteroid mission to visit 2nd space rock

[Admin]

Japan's Hayabusa2 mission is headed home from an asteroid called Ryugu, carrying a very special delivery of space rock, but Earth may not be the spacecraft's final destination.

Japan may extend Hayabusa2 asteroid mission to visit 2nd space rock : Read more

 

[newtons_laws]

It makes sense to get more Science from the Hayabusa 2 probe once it has come back to near the Earth and returned its sample payload of Ryuga material if there is sufficient remaining fuel. Given that they are looking at two possible targets, one of which called 2001 AV43 and is thought to be of less common composition and can be reached sooner (in 2029 rather than 2031 for the other asteroid) that would seem to be the better choice.