The Solar System - Word Search - PUZZLE #52 HAYABUSA - August 2025

PUZZLE #52 - HAYABUSA 

IN-CONTEXT WORD DEFINITIONS

Itokawa: Itokawa is the target asteroid of the Hayabusa mission. It's a small, near-Earth, S-type asteroid with a unique "rubble pile" structure, meaning it's a loosely bound aggregate of smaller rocks and dust rather than a solid monolith [2]. Hayabusa successfully landed on Itokawa, collected samples, and returned to Earth, providing the first direct samples of an asteroid. [2]

JAXA: JAXA stands for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, the national aerospace and space agency of Japan. JAXA was responsible for the design, development, and operation of the Hayabusa mission.

MINERVA: MINERVA (Micro/Nano Experimental Robot Vehicle for Asteroid) was a small hopping rover that Hayabusa attempted to deploy onto Itokawa's surface. While the deployment was unsuccessful due to technical issues, MINERVA represented an early attempt at robotic surface exploration of an asteroid.

Falcon: This refers to the Hayabusa spacecraft itself, which means "falcon" in Japanese. The name symbolizes the spacecraft's ability to swoop down, touch the asteroid, and return with a precious payload.

Navigation: Hayabusa utilized highly sophisticated autonomous navigation systems to reach Itokawa, land on its surface, collect samples, and return to Earth. This required precise calculations and real-time adjustments due to the asteroid's small size and weak gravity.

Sampling: One of the primary goals of the Hayabusa mission was to collect samples of material from Itokawa's surface. The spacecraft employed a unique sampling mechanism, firing small projectiles into the asteroid and collecting the ejected dust, though the collection mechanism faced challenges during operation.

Capsule: The Hayabusa spacecraft carried a special sample return capsule designed to protect the collected asteroid material during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. This capsule contained the precious dust grains from Itokawa, which were later analyzed in laboratories.

Re-entry: This refers to the event when the Hayabusa sample return capsule entered Earth's atmosphere after its long journey from Itokawa. The capsule successfully endured the extreme heat and pressure of re-entry, landing safely in Australia.

Woomera: The Woomera Prohibited Area in South Australia was the designated landing site for the Hayabusa sample return capsule. It is a large, restricted military testing range that provided the necessary safety and isolation for the recovery team.

Secret Word: The Hayabusa sample return capsule landed in the Woomera Prohibited Area in South Australia in June 2010. This remote location was chosen for its vast, uninhabited terrain, suitable for a safe landing and recovery operation.