Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return

Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return (NGSBR)
Mission type	Sample return
Operator	JAXA
Mission duration	12 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Bus	DSOTV
Launch mass	~2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
Landing mass	~130 kg (290 lb)
Dry mass	DSOTV: <1,000 kg (2,200 lb); Lander: <120 kg (260 lb);
Payload mass	265 kg (584 lb)
Dimensions	DSOTV: 1.8 × 2.4 × 2.6 m (5.9 × 7.9 × 8.5 ft); Lander: 0.8 × 0.8 × 0.8 m (2.6 × 2.6 × 2.6 ft);
Power	DSOTV: 800 W; Lander: 220 W;
Start of mission
Launch date	January 2034 (planned)
Rocket	H3-22S
Launch site	Tanegashima Space Center
End of mission
Disposal	Recovered
Landing date	December 2046 (planned)
Flyby of Earth
Closest approach	November 2035
Rendezvous with 289P/Blanpain
Arrival date	January 2040
Departure date	February 2042
Transponders
Bandwidth	X band: 64 kbit/s

Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return (NGSBR) is a proposed space mission concept by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) aimed at returning samples from a small Solar System body such as an asteroid or comet.^[3] Its main target is the comet 289P/Blanpain, a short-period comet with an orbital period of 5.2 years.^[4]

The mission is intended to build upon Japan's previous sample-return missions, including Hayabusa and Hayabusa2, which successfully returned material from near-Earth asteroids.^[5]

Objectives

The primary goal of NGSBR is to collect and return pristine material from a small celestial body to Earth for detailed scientific analysis.^[6] Such samples could provide insights into the early Solar System, the formation of planets, and the origins of organic compounds.^[2]

Additional objectives may include in situ analysis, surface mapping, and testing new technologies for deep-space exploration.^[7]

Background

Japan has been a leader in asteroid sample-return missions. The Hayabusa mission returned samples from asteroid 25143 Itokawa in 2010, while Hayabusa2 delivered material from 162173 Ryugu in 2020.^[8]

NGSBR is expected to incorporate advanced technologies developed from these missions, potentially enabling more complex sampling operations and access to different types of targets.^[9]

Backup targets

Five additional launch windows were identified for the mission towards 289P between 2033 and 2039.^[2] Aside from 289P/Blanpain, several asteroids and comets were considered as backup targets in case the 2034 launch window were missed.^[2] These objects include comets 15P/Finlay and 252P/LINEAR, as well as the following asteroids; 2003 XM, (451124) 2009 KC₃, and 2016 LX48.^[2]

References

1 2 3 4 N. Sakatani; H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki; et al. (16–20 March 2026). Next-Generation Small-Body Sample Return (NGSR): A Concept Study for a Future Japanese Mission to a Comet (PDF). 57th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Vol. 3160. The Woodlands, Texas. p. 1727. Bibcode:2026LPICo3160.1727S.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T. Saiki; Y. Tsuda; O. Mori; et al. (2025). "Mission concept of Japanese comet sample return exploration in the 2030s". Acta Astronautica. 235: 120–128. Bibcode:2025AcAau.235..120S. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.05.048.
↑ N. Sakatani; H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki; et al. (10–14 March 2025). Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return (NGSR): A Concept Study for a Future Japanese Mission to a Comet (PDF). 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Vol. 3090. The Woodlands, Texas. p. 2280. Bibcode:2025LPICo3090.2280S.
↑ A. Tomaswick (7 April 2026). "JAXA Plans To Bring Back Pristine Early Solar System Samples From A Comet". Universe Today. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
↑ O. Burlaka (13 April 2026). "JAXA Plans to Bring a Sample of Comet Material Back to Earth". Universe Space Tech. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
↑ S. Wakita; H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki; et al. (18–23 June 2023). The Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return: A Japanese Mission Plan to a Comet (PDF). Asteroids, Comets, Meteors Conference. Vol. 2851. Flagstaff, Arizona. p. 2029. Bibcode:2023LPICo2851.2029W.
↑ M. Williams (11 April 2025). "Japan's Next Sample-Return Mission Could be to a Comet". Universe Today. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
↑ A. Tomaswick (12 April 2026). "JAXA plans to bring back pristine early solar system samples from a comet". Phys.org. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
↑ H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki; N. Sakatani; et al. (November 2023). Next Generation small body Sample Return mission: a concept study for a future Japanese mission to a comet (PDF). HAYABUSA2023 Symposium.

[Sakatani_2026-1] 1 2 3 4 N. Sakatani; H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki; et al. (16–20 March 2026). Next-Generation Small-Body Sample Return (NGSR): A Concept Study for a Future Japanese Mission to a Comet (PDF). 57th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Vol. 3160. The Woodlands, Texas. p. 1727. Bibcode:2026LPICo3160.1727S.

[Saiki_2025-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 T. Saiki; Y. Tsuda; O. Mori; et al. (2025). "Mission concept of Japanese comet sample return exploration in the 2030s". Acta Astronautica. 235: 120–128. Bibcode:2025AcAau.235..120S. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.05.048.

[Sakatani_2025-3] N. Sakatani; H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki; et al. (10–14 March 2025). Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return (NGSR): A Concept Study for a Future Japanese Mission to a Comet (PDF). 56th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Vol. 3090. The Woodlands, Texas. p. 2280. Bibcode:2025LPICo3090.2280S.

[universe1-4] A. Tomaswick (7 April 2026). "JAXA Plans To Bring Back Pristine Early Solar System Samples From A Comet". Universe Today. Retrieved 18 April 2026.

[universe2-5] O. Burlaka (13 April 2026). "JAXA Plans to Bring a Sample of Comet Material Back to Earth". Universe Space Tech. Retrieved 18 April 2026.

[Wakita_2023-6] S. Wakita; H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki; et al. (18–23 June 2023). The Next Generation Small-Body Sample Return: A Japanese Mission Plan to a Comet (PDF). Asteroids, Comets, Meteors Conference. Vol. 2851. Flagstaff, Arizona. p. 2029. Bibcode:2023LPICo2851.2029W.

[universe3-7] M. Williams (11 April 2025). "Japan's Next Sample-Return Mission Could be to a Comet". Universe Today. Retrieved 18 April 2026.

[PHYS-20260412-8] A. Tomaswick (12 April 2026). "JAXA plans to bring back pristine early solar system samples from a comet". Phys.org. Retrieved 18 April 2026.

[Kurokawa_2023-9] H. Kurokawa; Y. Shimaki; N. Sakatani; et al. (November 2023). Next Generation small body Sample Return mission: a concept study for a future Japanese mission to a comet (PDF). HAYABUSA2023 Symposium.

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Objectives

Background

Backup targets

See also

References