Launched from Tanegashima Space Center on December 3, 2014, the Hayabusa2 arrived at its target, a C-type asteroid Ryugu, on June 27, 2019. Since that time, Hayabusa2 has succeeded in various, unique operations, such as global mapping of Ryugu, landing several rovers and a lander, two pinpoint touchdowns, making an artificial impact crater, and so on. PERC has been participating in the discussions on and development to almost every device for scientific observation installed in this probe. One key piece of equipment for this project among these is a small carry-on impactor (SCI) that was used to create an artificial crater on the surface of Ryugu. Ryugu is thought to contain more organic matter and hydrous minerals from the period when the solar system initially formed than 25143 Itokawa does. We are getting a closer look at the origins and evolution of the solar system and life by the observing Ryugu’s constituent materials and the appearance of the crater formed. Other instruments in which PERC has a hand also played important roles in Hayabusa2’s successful operations and observations.
Now, we are waiting for the return of Hayabusa2 bringing samples of Ryugu to the Earth.
