Thread by @haya2e_jaxa

[Capsule Separation Operation] It’s finally time for the capsule separation. A briefing was held from 10:00 JST (12/5), confirming current status & today’s operations. We began with words from PM Tsuda, “In the culmination of the mission, let’s make calm judgements & do our best”

[Capsule Separation Operation] At the start of the operation, the condition of the spacecraft, including the re-entry capsule, is normal. There are also no issues with the ground tracking station (today, Japan’s Uchinoura 34m is the main station, and Usuda 64m is the backup).

[Capsule Separation Operation] Many people (~30) are working in the control room today for the first time in a while, but the number is limited to prevent crowding. Surfaces have been disinfected, and we take measures against COVID-19, such as disinfecting hands & wearing a mask.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Gate Check 1 was at 11:06 JST. At a Gate Check, we confirm whether to proceed by checking each important point of the operation. There were no problems with the spacecraft, and Gate Check 1 was judged "GO" for the capsule separation & start of TCM-5

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 11:23 JST, the power supply for the re-entry capsule was switches to the internal battery. The external power supply has been disconnected. The condition of the capsule is normal.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 11:31 JST, the capsule parameter settings are complete. In the control room, the capsule team confirmed the command and are watching the condition of the capsule

[Capsule Separation Operation] The operation has so far communicated using the US Goldstone station, but from 11:40 JST this switched to Japan's Uchinoura station.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 11:40 JST, we obtained permission to execute TCM-5 from the Commonwealth Return Safety Officer (CRSO). With TCM-5, the orbit of the spacecraft will move from Woomera and temporarily cross Australia, requiring permission in advance.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 11:45 JST, Gate Check 2a was performed and it was confirmed that the capsule is normal. Gate Check 2a is GO.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 12:26 JST, Gate Check 2b was completed and it was confirmed that the condition of the spacecraft and ground system was normal. We will proceed to the next step, which is the procedure to change the spacecraft attitude.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Project Manager Tsuda is drawing one eye on the Daruma before the start of operations today. These Japanese dolls initially have two blank eyes. The first eye is drawn in to represent a goal, while the second eye is added when that goal is achieved.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 13:16 JST, the attitude change to allow the temperature to rise is complete. The sequence has been confirmed to be normal (Gate Check 2c). Gate Check 2c is GO.

[Capsule Separation Operation] The control room today.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Photograph of when permission to execute TCM-5 was obtained from the Commonwealth Return Safety Officer (CRSO). Dominic Balasuriya of the Australia Embassy is on the right, Project Manager Yuichi Tsuda is on the left.

[Capsule Separation Operation] A member of the capsule team watches over the capsule in the control room.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Hayabusa2 members working during today's operation.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At around 14:14 JST, the attitude change for the capsule separation begun and the attitude changed as planned.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Gate Check 3a was performed at 14:19 JST. This check was the decision as to whether the capsule could be separated from the spacecraft and was judged GO. Scheduled separation time for the capsule is 14:30 JST.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 14:23 JST, Gate Check 3b was performed and was declared GO. Then at 14:26 JST, the wire cut (communication between spacecraft and capsule) worked normally.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Capsule separation is coming soon. In the control room, We are watching the Doppler monitor.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Immediately after 14:30 JST, the values on the Doppler monitor changed significantly. We are currently checking the status of the spacecraft.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Based on information (telemetry) from the spacecraft and the Doppler data, it was confirmed today (12/5) at 14:35 JST that the capsule separated at 14:30 JST as planned. (Gate Check 4 is OK) Now, we will start the TCM-5 operation.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Command for attitude change for TCM-5 (trajectory control for leaving the Earth's sphere) has been sent.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At this is an important operation today, we are also connected to the DSN with an antenna in the USA. Project Manager Tsuda informed the DSN that the capsule separation was successful and received their congratulations.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Information about today's operation (and many of the slides shown in the live broadcast) are available in English in yesterday's press briefing posted on our website: hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en/enjoy/mater…

[Capsule Separation Operation] Currently, the attitude for TCM-5 is being changed.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 15:13 JST, the decision to implement the Trajectory Control Manoeuvre (TCM-5) to leave the Earth's sphere was decided as GO (Gate Check 5). TCM-5 begins around 15:30 JST and we plan to implement it multiple times.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 15:37 JST, it was confirmed that TCM-5 was performed as planned at 15:30. This is the first control with TCM-5. Two more times are planned, so TCM-5 is not yet complete.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 16:00 JST, the second thruster injection for TCM-5 was performed and the third injection will take place at 16:30 JST.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 16:31 JST, the 3rd injection of TCM-5 was confirmed. This completes the TCM-5 operation! Hayabusa2 will continue to approach the Earth until dawn tomorrow, but then leave Earth behind to embark on a new journey.

[Capsule Separation Operation] This photograph captures a discussion on the injection amount during TCM between the Orbit Determination (OD), System, Flight Director (FD) and Project Manager (PM).

[Capsule Separation Operation] Project members delighted when the success of TCM-5 (trajectory control manoeuvre to withdraw from the Earth's sphere) is confirmed.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Dr Kawaguchi, the project manager of Hayabusa, also confirmed the data!

[Capsule Separation Operation] The operation of the spacecraft is still ongoing. As of 17:30 JST, the spacecraft is in its attitude for shadow (the state where sunlight is blocked by the Earth).

[Capsule Separation Operation] The control room at the moment.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Another image showing the control room.

[Capsule Separation Operation] More views from the control room today. The top right photo shows the image when the Gate Check is confirmed, and the next photo will show the screen before we are GO...

[Capsule Separation Operation] .... this is screen prior to GO! Of course, the squares for DSN, AOCS and FD also became green before GO is approved.

[Capsule Separation Operation] For the spacecraft, various settings are made for the period where we are in shadow. The control room is still packed with many members watching over the spacecraft.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Before 19:00, a briefing was held to summarise operations so far and we confirmed everything is on schedule. PM Tsuda said, "Everything is successful and great" and "thank you for your hard work". We now hope the capsule can be collected safely.

[Capsule Separation Operation] The date has changed to Dec. 6 and operation of the spacecraft continues with shift 2. Currently, about 15 people are in the control room and the operation is proceeding in a quiet atmosphere. The spacecraft will be in shadow from about 01:57 JST.

[Capsule Separation Operation] A briefing for the change to shift 3 was held from 00:30 today (12/6). The members in the control room has increased to ~30 again. In this shift, the spacecraft will pass through shadow and make observations, and the capsule will land in Woomera.

[Capsule Separation Operation] The distance between Hayabusa2 and the Earth is displayed at the top of our website. This is the planned value. The value will decrease rapidly after 02:30 JST. Note, the value is the distance from the centre of the Earth. hayabusa2.jaxa.jp/en

The relative speed to the Earth will also increase rapidly after 02:30, reaching a maximum of about 11.7 km/s.

At this point (01:05 JST), Hayabusa2 is already closer than the orbit of a geostationary satellite.

[Capsule Separation Operation] At 01:57 JST, the spacecraft has entered the Earth's shadow.

The scheduled time for atmospheric entry for the capsule (altitude 120km) is 02:28:27 JST. It's coming soon.

Today (12/6) at 02:29 JST, the direction searcher / information liaison confirmed the light emission (fireball) from the capsule.

Today (12/6) at 02:32 JST, the direction searcher received the beacon radio wave from the capsule.

The estimated landing time for the capsule is between 02:47 ~ 57 JST. Capsule landing is coming soon!

The wide-angle Optical Navigation Camera (ONC-W2) onboard Hayabusa2 has been used to image the capsule as it became a fireball.

Today (12/6) at 03:07 JST, as a result of the beacon direction search, the capsule landing point has been estimated. Now, we will search by helicopter.

[Capsule Separation Operation] Due close proximity to the Earth, the spacecraft was invisible to ground antenna and communication was interrupted. However, communication with the Goldstone station began again at 03:15 JST. This elicited a big applause in the control room!

In Woomera, a helicopter took off at 03:17 JST to look for the capsule.

Today (12/6) at 04:31 JST, all operations related to the re-entry of the capsule have ended. The operation was perfect. We will now move into science observation operations, and observe the Earth & moon with scientific instruments.

Today (12/6) at 04:47 JST, as a result of the helicopter search, we found a capsule in the planned landing area!

[Capsule Separation Operation] Today (12/6) at 08:30 JST there was a briefing at the end of shift 4. Shift 3 was the biggest mountain of the mission end but it ended safely. After the briefing we drew the second eye on the daruma doll, indicating our goal had been achieved.

[Capsule Separation Operation] After the briefing at the end of shift 3, NEC Project Manager Oshima (left) and Project Manager Tsuda (right) drew the eye on the drama.