Deep Space Maneuver by Microwave Discharge Ion Engines onboard "HAYABUSA" Asteroid Explorer

The microwave discharge ion engine generates plasmas of both the main ion source and the neutralizer using 4㎓ microwave without discharge electrodes and hollow cathodes, so that long life and durability against oxygen and air are expected. The MUSES-C “HAYABUSA” asteroid explorer installing four microwave discharge ion engines “$\mu$10s” was launched into deep space by M-V rocket No.5 on May 9, 2003. After vacuum exposure and several runs of baking for reduction of residual gas the ion engine system established the continuous acceleration of the spacecraft toward the asteroid “ITOKAWA”. The Doppler shift measurement of the communication microwave revealed the performance of ion engines, which is 8mN thrust force for a single unit with 3,200sec specific impulse at 23mN/㎾ thrust power ratio. At the end of 2003 the accumulated operational time exceeded 8,000 hour and unit. HAYABUSA will execute the Earth swing-by on June 2004 and arrive at the asteroid in 2005 and return to Earth in 2007.