First-year Students of Aizu Gakuhou Junior High School Learned about the Hayabusa ＆ Hayabusa2 Project

On 14 September, 2023, 90 first-year students from Fukushima Prefectural Aizu Gakuhou Junior High School visited the University of Aizu (UoA) and learned about the Asteroid Explorer Hayabusa and Hayabusa2 from Professor Demura*, Director of the University of Aizu Research Center for Space Informatics（ARC-Space)**.
To begin with, Professor Demura, explained how the Hayabusa and Hayabusa2 missions were carried out, how the UoA was involved in the "Itokawa"and "Ryugu", and the technology that were made in Fukushima and used in the Hayabusa2 mission including impactor made artificial crater, lithium-ion batteries, parachutes, communication equipment.
The students listened to the sound of the launch of the H2A rocket that carried Hayabusa2 into space, touched the three-dimensional model of the asteroid Ryugu created by the UoA faculty members and students, and experienced stereoscopic viewing of the asteroid Itokawa and Ryugu through 3D viewing glasses.
Before the lecture, there were attractions such as searching for asteroids named after the participating students on their own tablets and understanding the solar system in 3D.
At the end of the lectue, Prof. Demura gave the participants some advice on how to prepare for learning at school.

Fukushima Prefectural Aizu Gakuhou Junior and Senior High School is a Super Science High School (SSH) designated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and their students participate in lectures and lab and facility tours at the UoA every year.

* Professor DEMURA Hirohide
** Aizu Research Center for Space Informatics (ARC-Space)