2010
NTN receives the certificates of appreciation for its contribution to asteroid probe “Hayabusa” projectDecember 15, 2010
State Minister in Charge of Space Development Banri Kaieda and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Yoshiaki Takaki presented certificates of appreciation respectively to NTN as a member of asteroid probe “Hayabusa” project at a ceremony held at the Cabinet Office in Tokyo on December 2.
On the occasion that the Hayabusa probe has successfully collected dust samples from an asteroid for the first time in the world, the Government thus cited Project Manager Junichiro Kawaguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and 118 organizations that supported the JAXA project team for their contribution to the successful mission of Hayabusa. NTN is the only bearing manufacturer that has received the citation.
The Hayabusa probe has adopted NTN-made spherical plain bearings in the hinges of its joints that open the solar panels of the probe after launch into space. The bearings precisely operated in the special ambience in space and achieved an important role in securing power supply from the solar cells to the probe.
NTN will continue its contribution to the space development project.
Letters of appreciation from the Space
Development Minister
Letters of appreciation from the Education,
Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister
A top view of the asteroid probe Hayabusa
NTN's spherical slide bearing used in Hayabusa
NTN bearings were used in the joints
(marked with arrows) that open the 3 solar panels.