By 
December 3rd, 2014
Credit: JAXA
After a successful liftoff, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) received signals from the Asteroid Explorer Hayabusa2 at 3:44 p.m. on December 3, 2014 (Japan Standard Time) at the NASA Goldstone Deep Space Communication Complex (in California).
There is confirmation that the spacecraft’s initial sequence of operations — including the solar array paddle deployment and sun acquisition control — have been performed normally.
Hayabusa2 was launched on the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 26 from the Tanegashima Space Center at 1:22:04 p.m. on the same day (JST.)
The explorer is also confirmed to be inserted into the scheduled orbit by the H-IIA F26 booster.
Credit: JAXA
The explorer is now in a stable condition.
For a video of the launch, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9TwlwZobc4&feature=youtu.be
Asteroid Day 2015
Meanwhile, join in today to observe a major press event in which a declaration will be issued calling for increased awareness and tracking of dangerous asteroids.
Experts in science, physics and planetary defense, led by Astrophysicist and Musician Brian May and Lord Martin Rees in the UK, and Bill Nye, CEO of the Planetary Society, Ryan Wyatt, Director of the Morrison Planetarium and veteran astronauts Rusty Schweickart, Ed Lu and Tom Jones in the US, will hold a joint UK-US press conference to announce Asteroid Day 2015, and to release the 100x Declaration to protect the future of our planet from asteroid impacts.
A declaration will be issued calling for increased awareness and tracking of dangerous asteroids.
ASTEROID DAY is scheduled for June 30, 2015, the anniversary of the Tunguska, Siberia asteroid impact.
The press conference will be held December 3, 2014 in London and San Francisco simultaneously, linked via video.
•San Francisco, CA, USA: California Academy of Sciences | 10:30 a.m. (PST).
•London, UK: The Science Museum | Gallery 29 | 6:30 p.m. (GMT).
Event page link:
https://plus.google.com/events/c080grbf0u5stvb21mctei6u7og
YouTube page (where event will be streamed live):
Posted in Space News
