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| Hayabusa 2 rovers send new images from Ryugu surface | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Japan's space agency (Jaxa) has released new images from the robot rovers it has deployed to the surface of an asteroid. | Japan's space agency (Jaxa) has released new images from the robot rovers it has deployed to the surface of an asteroid. |
| The photos reveal new details of the surface of the space rock, which is known as Ryugu. | The photos reveal new details of the surface of the space rock, which is known as Ryugu. |
| On 21 September, the rovers were released on to the surface by the "mothership", Hayabusa 2. | On 21 September, the rovers were released on to the surface by the "mothership", Hayabusa 2. |
| Hayabusa 2 reached Ryugu in June after a three-and-a-half-year journey. | Hayabusa 2 reached Ryugu in June after a three-and-a-half-year journey. |
| The pictures show in clear relief the rough, boulder-strewn landscape of this unusual Solar System body. | The pictures show in clear relief the rough, boulder-strewn landscape of this unusual Solar System body. |
| On Friday, Hayabusa 2 descended to about 60m in order to released the rovers, which had been stored in a container on the base of the spacecraft. | On Friday, Hayabusa 2 descended to about 60m in order to released the rovers, which had been stored in a container on the base of the spacecraft. |
| One of the principal concerns for deployment was Ryugu's rougher-than-expected surface, which is carpeted with boulders and has very few smooth patches. | One of the principal concerns for deployment was Ryugu's rougher-than-expected surface, which is carpeted with boulders and has very few smooth patches. |
| The 1kg rovers are equipped with wide-angle and stereo cameras to send back pictures. Spine-like projections from the edges of the hoppers are sensors that will measure surface temperatures on the asteroid. | The 1kg rovers are equipped with wide-angle and stereo cameras to send back pictures. Spine-like projections from the edges of the hoppers are sensors that will measure surface temperatures on the asteroid. |
| They can hop and float around thanks to motor-powered internal rotors, which propel the robots across the asteroid. | They can hop and float around thanks to motor-powered internal rotors, which propel the robots across the asteroid. |
| Follow Paul on Twitter. | Follow Paul on Twitter. |