Japan's Hayabusa2 Probe May Encounter Derelict Spacecraft Instead of Asteroid
Paper Claims the “Asteroid” Japan’s Probe Is Approaching Is Actually a Derelict Spacecraft

Image: Futurism
Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft, after its successful mission to asteroid Ryugu, is set to reach asteroid 1998 KY26 by July 2031. However, a new theory suggests this object might be a derelict spacecraft from the Soviet space program, specifically the Phobos 1 probe, rather than a natural asteroid.
- 01Hayabusa2 is expected to arrive at 1998 KY26 by July 2031 after its successful mission to asteroid Ryugu.
- 02Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb proposes that 1998 KY26 could be a relic of the Soviet Phobos 1 probe, which failed shortly after launch in 1988.
- 03Loeb's hypothesis is based on similarities in size, shape, and orbital characteristics between 1998 KY26 and the defunct spacecraft.
- 04The theory raises questions about the nature of interstellar objects, suggesting they could include human-made artifacts.
- 05Further studies are encouraged to better understand the origin and properties of 1998 KY26 before Hayabusa2's arrival.
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Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft, which successfully returned samples from asteroid Ryugu in June 2018, is on its way to asteroid 1998 KY26, expected to arrive by July 2031. This object has sparked interest as it may represent a new class of celestial bodies. However, a recent paper by Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb suggests that 1998 KY26 could actually be a derelict spacecraft from the Soviet space program, specifically the Phobos 1 probe, which failed shortly after its launch in 1988 due to a command error. Loeb's team argues that the two objects share similar sizes and orbital paths, raising intriguing questions about the nature of such space objects. He advocates for expanding the scope of research to include human-made objects in space. The findings could have significant implications for our understanding of interstellar phenomena, especially if 1998 KY26 is confirmed to be technological in origin. As Hayabusa2 prepares for its mission, further observational studies are recommended to clarify the true nature of this mysterious object.
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