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| Hayabusa 2 rovers send new images from Ryugu surface | 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 rugged, boulder-strewn landscape of this unusual Solar System body. | The pictures show in clear relief the rugged, boulder-strewn landscape of this unusual Solar System body. |
| The robots, known as Rover 1A and Rover 1B, are now both confirmed to be working on the surface of the planet. | The robots, known as Rover 1A and Rover 1B, are now both confirmed to be working on the surface of the planet. |
| The 1kg autonomous rovers move about by hopping, using the asteroid's low gravity. Each one contains a motor-powered internal mass that rotates to generate force, propelling the robot across the surface. | The 1kg autonomous rovers move about by hopping, using the asteroid's low gravity. Each one contains a motor-powered internal mass that rotates to generate force, propelling the robot across the surface. |
| Japan's rovers send pictures from asteroid | Japan's rovers send pictures from asteroid |
| Rover 1B also sent back the first video footage from the surface of an asteroid. | |
| 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. |
| The 900m-wide space rock known formally as 162173 Ryugu belongs to a particularly primitive type of asteroid. | The 900m-wide space rock known formally as 162173 Ryugu belongs to a particularly primitive type of asteroid. |
| It is thought to be a relic left over from the early days of our Solar System, so studying it could shed light on the origin and evolution of our own planet. | It is thought to be a relic left over from the early days of our Solar System, so studying it could shed light on the origin and evolution of our own planet. |
| Follow Paul on Twitter. | Follow Paul on Twitter. |