Hayabusa2 team honored with Prime Minister’s award

Tokyo, Dec. 17 (Jiji Press) – The Japanese government presented the prime minister award to the Hayabusa2 unmanned asteroid probe project team of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, on Thursday.

At a reception held in the prime minister’s office, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga praised several of the achievements of the world’s first spacecraft, including two landings on an asteroid Ryugu.

JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa said, “It would be an honor if we could contribute to supporting Japan.”

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Yuichi Tsuda, Hayabusa2 project manager, noted that the spacecraft is now going at a new pace. “I hope it (the new mission) can reveal more areas of space exploration,” he said.

As a reward for the award, JAXA presented a model of Ryugu to the prime minister.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]