JAXA Repurposes Hayabusa2 for Asteroid Deterrent Testing

The spacecraft will study two asteroids and may be used to alter their paths, contributing to planetary defense.

Japan's space agency, JAXA, has repurposed its Hayabusa2 spacecraft to test asteroid deterrent methods.
Hayabusa2 will study asteroid 2001 CC21 and in 2031, will fly close to asteroid 1998 KY26, a fast-spinner whose orbit crosses with Earth's.
The spacecraft will release a target marker onto the asteroid, allowing scientists to study its rotation with better accuracy.
JAXA may test using the spacecraft as a battering ram to alter the asteroid's path, similar to NASA's DART method.
The mission will contribute to planetary defense and could potentially aid in future asteroid mining operations.