First Laser Ranging Experiment Conducted on an Asteroid
On July 5, 2026, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) carried out the first successful laser ranging experiment while conducting a flyby of an asteroid.
The experiment employed a laser aboard the Hayabusa2 spacecraft to measure the distance to the asteroid with high precision.
This marks the first demonstration that laser ranging can work in space during a rapid flyby.
The collected data are being analyzed to refine the asteroid's orbit and to enhance future navigation techniques.