Japan's Hayabusa2 probe faces a tougher mission after new measurements revealed its target asteroid is nearly three times smaller and spinning about twice as fast as originally estimated.

Having scooped up some asteroid material from 162173 Ryugu in 2018, which was returned to Earth in 2020, Hayabusa2 was sent on an extended expedition to another asteroid, 1998 KY26. The probe is due to reach its target in 2031.

The trip was always going to be a greater challenge. Part of it involves a high-speed flyby of another asteroid, 98943 Torifune, something Hayabusa2's instruments (such as its fixed cameras) weren't designed for, and after this a rendezvous with 1998 KY26. Keeping the spacecraft running for another decade was going to be tough enough, but now, rather than the 30-meter-object the

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