The date has been set! On 3 October 2018, after almost four years in space, the Franco-German MASCOT asteroid lander will separate from its Japanese mother craft Hayabusa2 and free-fall onto the surface of the asteroid Ryugu. The separation, driven by a small mechanism, will be a pivotal moment on which much depends. Once triggered, it will create a mechanically coupled chain reaction that will irrevocably initiate the mission. This is the point of no return. The way in which the mechanism functions and the possible risks of separation are briefly outlined here.
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On December 3rd 2014, the French-German MASCOT asteroid lander was launched with its carrier probe Hayabusa2 from Tanegashima, an island about 40 kilometres south of the Japanese mainland. With MASCOT halfway to its destination, we look back on all that has happened since the launch.
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Es ist gerade einmal wenige Wochen her, dass die ESA-Mission Rosetta die Landeeinheit Philae in einer spektakulären Aktion auf dem Kometen 'Chury' abgesetzt hat. Und noch bevor dessen erste Daten genauer analysiert werden konnten, wurde mit der japanischen Mission Hayabusa2 und dem mitgeführten Lander Mascot der nächste Hoffnungsträger zur Erforschung des Sonnensystems auf die Reise geschickt.
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The last adjustments have been made and the final functionality tests have been completed. Following the successful installation of MASCOT into the Hayabusa-2 spacecraft in Sagamihara, the final preparations have taken place at the Tanegashima launch complex in Japan. The attachment of the solar sails – carefully folded up above MASCOT for the launch – offers the last opportunity to see MASCOT.
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Nach all den Tests und Entwicklungsarbeiten im vergangenen Jahr ist es ein unglaubliches Gefühl nun das finale Modul fertig zu stellen, welches auch schon bald auf seine lange Mission geschickt wird. Für das Integrationsteam ist es definitiv eines der Highlights im gesamten Projekt. Aber drehen wir die Zeit noch mal ein paar Wochen zurück und schauen uns rückblickend an, wie das MASCOT Flugmodell zum Leben erwachte!
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The MASCOT asteroid lander will be delivered to the Japanese space agency JAXA at the start of next year. It will be integrated into the Hayabusa2 spacecraft and prepared for launch, scheduled for late 2014. There is still a long way to go, but there is little time!
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The 'small’ asteroid lander MASCOT will set off for asteroid 1999 JU3 on board the Japanese Hayabusa-2 mission at the end of 2014. Although from the outside it seems to be the size of a shoebox, the lander’s stature is deceiving! Its sophisticated and highly developed payload, and its powerful communication and computing system make MASCOT a high-tech, albeit very compact, autonomous spacecraft, perfectly equipped to cope with the arduous and long mission it faces.
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