MINERVA To Explore The Surface of Itokawa

http://www.isas.ac.jp/e/snews/2005/1103.shtml

MINERVA explores the surface of ITOKAWA
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
November 3, 2005

MINERVA (MIcro/Nano Experimental Robot Vehicle for Asteroid) is a small
robot lander whose weight is less than 600g. Although it is a tiny
lander, MINERVA can investigate the surface of ITOKAWA using three
small
color CCD cameras.

[images]

These cameras are installed at 5 cm height from its bottom. Two of the
cameras make up a stereo pair that is capable of looking at distance
from 10 to 50 cm. The pair can observe the detailed surface conditions
at the landing area of MINERVA. A camera that can see further away is
installed on the other side. It will observe more distant regions of
the
surface and can operate while hopping.

Using the onboard camera of HAYABUSA, the best image surface resolution
of ITOKAWA was 30 m during the global mapping phase and will be 1 ? 2
cm
during the touchdown operation. On the other hand, the cameras on
MINERVA have a image resolution of less than 1 mm when they observe 10
cm distance objects and can observe minerals making up a rock.
Moreover,
MINERVA can investigate the size of regolith grains covering the
surface
of ITOKAWA.

Among pins attached to the top and the bottom of MINERVA, six are
thermal sensors which measure the surface temperature of ITOAKAWA. From
temperature variation data, we will be able to tell whether the surface
of ITOKAWA is rich in sands or rocks.