MAN MADE OBJECTS ON ASTEROID 25143 ITOKAWA

Non-exhaustive list of artificial objects that have reached the surface of 25143 Itokawa, which is an Apollo-class asteroid orbiting the sun between Venus and Mars. This potato-shaped near-Earth object measures approximately 330 meters in diameter and is potentially hazardous.

Itokawa was visited by the JAXA sample-return mission Hayabusa in November 2005.

Estimated number of artificial objects: 4
Estimated total mass: 0.6 kg.

COSPAR IDname typemissionquantity on surfacemass (kg)statusdate/epoch (UTC)
2003-019AHAYABUSA MARKER 2Target markerHAYABUSA (MUSES C)10.3deployed on the surfaceNovember 9, 2005
2003-019AHAYABUSA MARKER 3Target marker with aluminum sheet bearing 880,000 signaturesHAYABUSA (MUSES C)10.3deployed on the surfaceNovember 19, 2005
2003-019ASAMPLING PROJECTILES?Tantalum bulletHAYABUSA (MUSES C)2?0.01fired, impact?November 25, 2005