JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has determined the following date and time for the flyby exploration of asteroid Torifune by the asteroid explorer Hayabusa2.

Schedule of asteroid Torifune flyby ^*1

Date: 5 July 2026 (Sunday)
Time: Around 18:30 JST^*2

*1The flyby is planned at a distance of approximately 1km from the asteroid centre at a velocity of 5km/s relative to Torifune.
*2The time may vary depending on operational conditions.

Asteroid explorer Hayabusa2

The Hayabusa2 was launched in December 2014 onboard the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 26. The spacecraft arrived at asteroid Ryugu in June 2018, achieving a number of world-first results that included the creation of an artificial crater on the surface of a small celestial body. Hayabusa2 returned to Earth in December 2020, successfully delivering a sample of the asteroid material.
Hayabusa2 returned to deep space to embark on an “Extended Mission”. On 5 July 2026, the spacecraft will conduct a flyby observation during a close pass to asteroid Torifune. The flyby aims to demonstrate high-precision orbital guidance and develop technology applicable to implementing intentional orbit changes to an asteroid. The final goal of the Extended Mission is to rendezvous with asteroid 1998 KY26 in 2031 and conduct exploration activities. These initiatives play an important role in the field of planetary defence, contributing to the future mitigation of asteroid impact risks.

Planetary defence

Planetary defence refers to efforts to identify and monitor Earth-approaching asteroids and other celestial bodies at an early stage and take measures to prevent damage if there is a risk of collision with the Earth. Because such celestial impacts would pose a threat to all of humanity, transcending national borders, these efforts are being advanced through international cooperation centred on the United Nations. Hayabusa2 will contribute to planetary defence primarily from the following two perspectives:

(1) High-speed flyby observation
The flyby of asteroid Torifune that is scheduled for 5 July 2026 will be conducted at an extremely high speed of approximately 5 km/s while making a very close pass to the asteroid. The purpose of this mission is to acquire fundamental data for the technology required to accurately guide a probe to impact with small celestial bodies.
(2) Exploration of ultra-small asteroids
In 2031, Hayabusa2 is scheduled to reach asteroid 1998 KY26, estimated to be approximately30m in diameter, to conduct a world-first rendezvous exploration of this type of asteroid. Because there is a risk that such small celestial bodies could survive passage through our atmosphere to collide with the Earth, understanding the physical structure of these rapidly rotating small bodies—such as whether they are monolithic rock or aggregate of rocks—constitutes extremely important data for future impact avoidance measures.

Artist’s illustration of the Hayabusa2 asteroid explorer performing the flyby of asteroid Torifune (© IKESHITA Akihiro) — ©IKESHITA Akihiro Artist’s illustration of the Hayabusa2 asteroid explorer performing the flyby of asteroid Torifune

JAXA Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Press Release

The timing of the flyby of asteroid Torifune by asteroid explorer Hayabusa2

Asteroid explorer Hayabusa2

Planetary defence

関連リンク