Time to say goodbye to Ryugu! Hayabusa2 has started the return journey on the 13th of November 2019. In answer to our Hayabusa2 Science Team call, all the Hayabusa2 team members contributed to send wishes to Ryugu. Anyone can send wishes to Ryugu, simply send a message with hashtag #SAYONARA_Ryugu on twitter!
Below my farewell postcard for Ryugu. On the front my friend Nanako and I in Kyoto. On the back the Hayabusa2 engineering team members and I during last year (Nov-Dec 2018) conjunction operation.
Hayabusa2 legacy will be never forgotten. Japan is the leading country of small body explorations. I'm glad I had the opportunity to have taken part of this historical endeavour.