Join us in-person or online for a special event at the Australian Space Discovery Centre on Tuesday 7 October as we unveil a new exhibit featuring a sample from asteroid Ryugu.
In December 2020, Australia and Japan collaborated to successfully return samples from Ryugu to Woomera in South Australia as part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) Hayabusa2 mission.
This hybrid event commemorates this landmark space achievement and partnership. Director General of JAXA’s Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Dr Masaki Fujimoto, will present exclusive insights into the mission, its operations, the significance of the asteroid sample. Dr Fujimoto will also take questions from attendees following his presentation.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from one of the world’s leading space agencies about the incredible journey of Haybausa2 and its contribution to space science.
What's happening:
Unveiling of a new exhibit — a sample from asteroid Ryugu.
When:
Tuesday 7 October 2025 (South Australia's school holiday period)
What time:
• 10.30 - 11.30 am Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT)
• 8.00 - 9.00 am Japan Standard Time (JST)
Language of the session:
English
Attend in-person
Attend virtually
Meet the speaker
Masaki Fujimoto is Director General of JAXA’s Institute of Space and Astronautical Science — the science institute of Japanese space agency.
During his seven-year term as Deputy Director General of the institute, he coordinated multiple international collaborations. Dr Fujimoto joined the capsule recovery operation team of Hayabusa2 which performed its mission in Woomera, South Australia.
The Director General is also one of the founding fathers of MMX, JAXA mission to return samples from Phobos, one of the Martian moons.
Australian Space Discovery Centre
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