Gravity and Slope Map

The purpose of the Rehearsal Descent is, first of all, to make sure that the proximity laser range finder works as intended, as its function has not been calibrated during cruise. The second purpose is to confirm whether the target marker image can be extracted against the asteroid surface, using onboard image processing that illuminates it using flash lamps onboard the spacecraft. The third purpose is to deploy and place the hopping robot MINERVA on the asteroid surface. Deploying MINERVA conflicts with the touch-down sequence, so it will be separated in advance of the sampling runs.
In conjunction with this very big challenge, JAXA is also starting a nation-wide campaign called ‘You Name the Landing Site’. The names assigned to the sites may not be officially registered by the IAU as the sites are very small. However, JAXA, as a finder, declares that the sites will be given those selected names.