Topics – Page 2 – Hera-JAPAN Project

2023-12-222024-10-03Online Open Campus

Online Open Campus 2023

At the JAXA Sagamihara Campus Online Open Campus 2023, held on November 4, 2023, we provided the latest updates on the Hera project. With less than a year remaining until launch, we shared the mission overview of Hera, the significance of TIRI, the scientific endeavors to be conducted with TIRI, and the current status of PFM development. We were delighted to have a large audience during the live broadcast, with many viewers leaving supportive comments such as: “I’ve never heard of the YORP effect before.” “Best of luck, we’re rooting for you!” We truly appreciate all the encouraging comments we received. You can also check out the program archive below. Please take a look! Presenter：Takuya Ishizaki (Hera-JP), Masanori Kanamaru (Hera-JP), […]

2023-05-302024-01-19Development

TIRI EM development completed!!

After manufacturing the engineering model (EM) of the Thermal Infrared Imager TIRI, we finished all environmental tests at the end of April 2023. And now, EM development has been completed! (Fig. 1) EM was handed over to the Hera spacecraft developer (OHB) through the European Space Agency (ESA) in early May, and is participating in the electrical test with the spacecraft system. Figure 1: Engineering model (EM) of Thermal Infrared Imager TIRI Before shipping the EM to Europe, we took a commemorative photo with the Meisei TIRI development team and the Hera JAPAN project team (Fig. 2). We realized that not only the people who helped us with the calibration test to understand the performance of TIRI, but also the […]

2022-11-292024-01-19Research

Avalanche on an asteroid !?

The DART spacecraft revealed that Didymos exhibits a top shape with a bulging equator. The results of numerical simulation using a supercomputer were presented regarding the formation process of the top shape, which can also be seen in the Ryugu explored by Hayabusa2 and the Bennu explored by NASA/OSIRIS-Rex. The results show that such shapes can be formed by avalanches occurring on asteroids. For more details, refer to the article below. ◆ISAS GATE◆ 【Avalanche on an asteroid!? What is the evolution of rubble-pile asteroids? – Avalanches, and the formation of top-shaped asteroids and rubble-pile satellites -】 https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/research-portal/gateway/2022/1125/ Shimaki, Hera JAPAN Nov. 29, 2022 【Avalanche on asteroid!? What is the evolution of rubble-pile asteroids? (Simulation movie) – Avalanches, and […]

2022-11-252022-12-14Online Open Campus

Avoid celestial bodies colliding with Earth!

In this talk we introduced the current status of planetary defense (space guard) that deals with the celestial collisions with the earth. We discussed JAXA’s activities, including observing near-Earth objects and the Hayabusa2# and Hera-JAPAN projects as well as overseas activities such as DART/NASA and at the United Nations. We provided an overview of these topics, as well as the basics of planetary defense, so that everyone can understand. This includes using 3D models to explain the thermal infrared imager, TIRI, that is being developed for Hera-JAPAN. Presenter: Makoto Yoshikawa (JAXA), Speaker: Seitaro Urakawa(Japan Spaceguard Association), Toshifumi Yanagisawa (JAXA), Yuya Mimasu (Hayabusa2#/JAXA), Takuya Ishizaki, Yuri Shimaki (Hera-JP/JAXA). Streamed at JAXA Shagamihara online open campus 2022 (Oct. 21, 2022). Hera-JAPAN Nov. […]

2022-11-252022-12-14Online Open Campus

Online open campus 2022

We provided the latest information on the Hera-JAPAN project at the JAXA Sagamihara online open campus 2022 (October 21, 2022) . Brian May, doctor of astrophysics who is also the guitarist of the legendary rock band Queen, talks about the mission. There were also discussions on the current status and science behind TIRI, the thermal infrared camera being developed by Hera-JAPAN. Please take a look! Presenter: Takuya Ishizaki (Hera-JP). Speaker: Brian May (Queen), Naoya Sakatani (Hera-JP) . Hera JAPAN Nov. 25, 2022 【Binary Asteroid Exploration Program Hera (Hera JAPAN)- Online open campus 2022】 jaxasgm-JAXA Sagamihara Channel (YouTobe)

2022-09-272023-08-31DART

DART mission accomplished!

Congratulations on DART’s successful impact! The Double Asteroid Re-direction Test (DART) spacecraft, NASA’s first planetary defense test mission, successfully collided with asteroid Dimorphos (the satellite of binary asteroid Didymos) on September 27, 2022, 8:14 JST!! The operations were streamed on NASA TV and Youtube. We, Hera JAPAN, who are developing a thermal infrared imager (TIRI) which will be onboard ESA’s Hera spacecraft to observe the binary asteroid in 2027, congratulate the DART team on its successful impact. We look forward to seeing more results, such as orbital changes of Dimorphos and LICIACube images. Hera JAPAN Sep. 27, 2022 Figure: DRACO camera images (NASA Youtube)

2022-07-012022-12-14Online Open Campus

Online open Campus 2021

This video introduces the Hara Project, ESA’s planetary defense mission that JAXA is also a participant, which was filmed during the JAXA Sagamihara online open campus 2021 (Mar. 25, 26, 2022) ! The discussion focused on explaining the science that will be performed by the thermal infrared camera TIRI being provided by JAXA. Presenter: Takuya Ishizaki (Hera-JP). Speasker: Tatsuaki Okada (Hera-JP Project Maneger). Hera JAPAN Oct. 1, 2022 【Binary Asteroid Exploration Program, Hera ~Challenge to Planetary Defense~ (Hera JAPAN)】 Figure: jaxasgm-JAXA Sagamihara Channel (YouTube)

2022-03-302024-01-19Uncategorized

Established HP

We are pleased to announce the launch of the official website for TIRI, the thermal infrared camera onboard ESA’s dual asteroid explorer Hera! We’ll be gradually enriching the content of the website, and we’d appreciate your support as we work towards its launch in 2024! Shimaki, Hera JAPAN March 30, 2022