In order to achieve a super-close flyby of an asteroid, Japanese engineers had to update the Hayabusa2 spacecraft mid-flight. This mission paves the way for future flybys that protect Earth from stray asteroids headed our way. https://spectrum.ieee.org/planetary-defense-jaxa-hyabusa2?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fedica-Mastodon-Daily-Pipeline