Publication Date:
2017-10-02
Description:
NIRS is a near infrared spectrometer on-board the spacecraft HAYABUSA, which aims to return samples from a near-earth asteroid, 25143 Itokawa. HAYABUSA was successfully launched by Japanese M-V-5 rocket on May 9, 2003. After the successful earth swing-by on May 19, 2004, the spacecraft is now on the way toward the asteroid, where it will arrive in this summer. During the rendezvous phase with the asteroid, we will observe the asteroid surface using NIRS and obtain reflectance spectra of the surface materials across the wavelength range of 850nm to 2100nm. Based on ground-based observations [1],[2],[3], 25143 Itokawa appears to be an S(IV) type asteroid. NIRS can detect absorption bands due to olivine and pyroxene and investigate the mineralogical composition of the surface materials, and reveal a relationship between asteroids and meteorites.
Keywords:
Space Radiation
Type:
Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVI, Part 1; LPI-Contrib-1234-Pt-1
Format:
text
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