Who built the PROCYON spacecraft?
The University of Tokyo and JAXA joined forces to build the spacecraft. The probe weighed 70 kilograms and measured approximately 60 centimeters on each side.
Questions about Procyon
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did the PROCYON launch occur?
The 3rd of December 2014 marked the moment PROCYON lifted off alongside its larger companion Hayabusa2. The launch occurred precisely at 13:22:04 Japan Standard Time.
What caused the failure of the PROCYON mission?
The ion engine failed completely on the 10th of March 2015 after operating with promising initial results. This single mechanical breakdown doomed the planned asteroid encounter scheduled for 2016.
How close did PROCYON fly by Earth during its uncontrolled pass?
The 3rd of December 2015 brought PROCYON close to our planet during an uncontrolled flyby. A controlled distance of 30 kilometers remained impossible to achieve without functional propulsion.
What scientific data did the Lyman-alpha imaging camera capture before contact was lost?
The instrument recorded the first complete image of Earth's geocorona. These observations confirmed that the geocorona possesses north-south symmetry for the first time ever.