“On December 26 of last year the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) solicited bids for xenon, the propellant to be used for the asteroid probe Hayabusa 2 scheduled to be launched in 2014. The bid was won by the Ueki, a major gas distributor.

Hayabusa 2 will explore the asteroid called “1999 JU3.” This asteroid is one of Near Earth Objects (NEO), indicating it is an object in an orbit which brings it close to the Earth. After arriving at the targeted asteroid, Hayabusa 2 will have an exploratory robot land on the surface of the asteroid, and have it pick up material. The final mission of the probe will be to bring this material back to Earth. The launch is set for 2014, with the arrival at the asteroid set for 2018. It will return to Earth at the end of 2020, making this a very spectacular project indeed.

As TGR has reported on numerous occasions already, Hayabusa will employ an ion engine which will use xenon as its fuel. The xenon is ionized. This means that the xenon is divided into a positive electric charge (positive ion) and electrons. The positive ion alone is then electrostatically accelerated. This electrostatically accelerated positive ion is emitted, and the reaction occurring at that time is used as thrust.”