Society

Hayabusa2 makes last engine thrust for return home

May 13 (NHK) - Japan's space agency says its asteroid probe Hayabusa2 has begun its final engine thrust for its return to Earth.

Hayabusa2 operated its main engine for more than 800 hours through February after exploring the asteroid Ryugu. It's now about 160 million kilometers from Earth.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, announced on Tuesday that the probe had begun its second-stage engine operation.

An operating team confirmed earlier in the day that one of the probe's four ion engines began operating normally as scheduled.

The second operation is to continue until around September, when the probe is scheduled to be about 40 million kilometers from Earth.

Hayabusa2 is to then adjust its orbit using a positioning device and drop a capsule on an Australian desert around November or December. The capsule is believed to contain rock samples from the asteroid surface.

JAXA plans to recover the capsule and analyze its contents for possible clues to the origins of life and the solar system.

Typhoon No. 24 Poses Heavy Rain Threat to Okinawa

Typhoon No. 24 is currently located over the southern seas and is expected to track westward toward Vietnam later this week, with no direct impact anticipated on Japan. As of now, the storm’s central pressure is 1000 hectopascals, with maximum sustained winds reaching 20 meters per second. Satellite imagery shows a significant cloud mass developing in the southern region, indicating intensified activity around the system.

Real-Life Water Police: Protecting Tokyo’s Seas and Rivers

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Tourist Graffiti Threatens Kyoto’s Iconic Bamboo Forest

Kyoto’s world-famous Arashiyama district, a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, is facing a growing problem of graffiti etched into the bamboo along its iconic “Bamboo Grove Path,” with more than 350 stalks now damaged — a practice that experts warn could eventually cause bamboo to weaken, fall, and even injure visitors.

Japanese Streaming Services Struggle Against Netflix

Japan’s streaming industry is under growing pressure as foreign giants tighten their grip on the domestic market, with Netflix’s latest move to secure exclusive broadcast rights in Japan for every game of the World Baseball Classic next March highlighting the widening gap.

Japan Tightens Rules on Foreign Business Visas

Investigators from the Immigration Services Agency conducted on-site inspections in Osaka on October 14th amid a surge in so-called 'paper companies' created by foreign nationals seeking residency.

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