Engineering:Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return

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Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return (NGSR)
Mission typeSample return
OperatorJAXA
Mission duration12 years (planned)[1]
Spacecraft properties
BusDSOTV[2]
Launch mass~2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
Landing mass~130 kg (290 lb)
Dry massTemplate:Unbulleted
Payload mass265 kg (584 lb)
DimensionsTemplate:Unbulleted
PowerTemplate:Unbulleted
Start of mission
Launch dateJanuary 2034 (planned)[1]
RocketH3-22S[2]
Launch siteTanegashima Space Center
End of mission
DisposalRecovered
Landing dateDecember 2046 (planned)[1]
Flyby of Earth
Closest approachNovember 2035[2]
Rendezvous with 289P/Blanpain
Arrival dateJanuary 2040[2]
Departure dateFebruary 2042[1]
Transponders
BandwidthX band: 64 kbit/s[2]
 

Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return (NGSR) is a proposed space mission concept by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) aimed at returning samples from a small Solar System body such as an asteroid or comet.[3] Its main target is the comet 289P/Blanpain, a short-period comet with an orbital period of 5.2 years.[4]

The mission is intended to build upon Japan's previous sample-return missions, including Hayabusa and Hayabusa2, which successfully returned material from near-Earth asteroids.[5]

Objectives

The primary goal of NGSR is to collect and return pristine material from a small celestial body to Earth for detailed scientific analysis.[6] Such samples could provide insights into the early Solar System, the formation of planets, and the origins of organic compounds.[2]

Additional objectives may include in situ analysis, surface mapping, and testing new technologies for deep-space exploration.[7]

Background

Japan has been a leader in asteroid sample-return missions. The Hayabusa mission returned samples from asteroid 25143 Itokawa in 2010, while Hayabusa2 delivered material from 162173 Ryugu in 2020.[4]

NGSR is expected to incorporate advanced technologies developed from these missions, potentially enabling more complex sampling operations and access to different types of targets.[8]

Backup targets

Five additional launch windows were identified for the mission towards 289P between 2033 and 2039.[2] Aside from 289P/Blanpain, several asteroids and comets were considered as backup targets in case the 2034 launch window were missed.[2] These objects include comets 15P/Finlay and 252P/LINEAR, as well as the following asteroids; 2003 XM, (451124) 2009 KC3, and 2016 LX48.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 N. Sakatani; H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki (16–20 March 2026). "Next-Generation Small-Body Sample Return (NGSR): A Concept Study for a Future Japanese Mission to a Comet". 57th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. 3160. The Woodlands, Texas. p. 1727. Bibcode: 2026LPICo3160.1727S. https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2026/pdf/1727.pdf. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 T. Saiki et al. (2025). "Mission concept of Japanese comet sample return exploration in the 2030s". Acta Astronautica 235: 120–128. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.05.048. Bibcode: 2025AcAau.235..120S. 
  3. ↑ N. Sakatani; H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki; R. Fukai; T. Okada (10–14 March 2025). "Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return (NGSR): A Concept Study for a Future Japanese Mission to a Comet". 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. 3090. The Woodlands, Texas. p. 2280. Bibcode: 2025LPICo3090.2280S. https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2025/pdf/2280.pdf. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "JAXA Plans To Bring Back Pristine Early Solar System Samples From A Comet". 2026-04-07. https://www.universetoday.com/articles/jaxa-plans-to-bring-back-pristine-early-solar-system-samples-from-a-comet. 
  5. ↑ "JAXA Plans to Bring a Sample of Comet Material Back to Earth". 2026-04-13. https://universemagazine.com/en/jaxa-plans-to-bring-a-sample-of-comet-material-back-to-earth/. 
  6. ↑ S. Wakita; H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki (18–23 June 2023). "The Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return: A Japanese Mission Plan to a Comet". Asteroids, Comets, Meteors Conference. 2851. Flagstaff, Arizona. pp. 2029. Bibcode: 2023LPICo2851.2029W. https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/acm2023/pdf/2029.pdf. 
  7. ↑ "Japan's Next Sample-Return Mission Could be to a Comet". 2025-04-11. https://www.universetoday.com/articles/japans-next-sample-return-mission-could-be-to-a-comet. 
  8. ↑ H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki; N. Sakatani; R. Fukai; T. Okada (November 2023). "Next Generation small body Sample Return mission: a concept study for a future Japanese mission to a comet". HAYABUSA2023 Symposium. https://curation.isas.jaxa.jp/symposium/abstract/2023/S34-05_Kurokawa.pdf. 



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