Hayabusa

Hayabusa, meaning falcon in Japanese, is a name used for several Japanese technologies and cultural products.

One of the most prominent uses is in space exploration. The Hayabusa mission, also known as MUSES-C, was JAXA’s asteroid sample-return mission. It launched on May 9, 2003, reached the near-Earth asteroid Itokawa in 2005, and collected surface material. After an extended flight, the spacecraft released a sample capsule that landed in Australia and was recovered in June 2010, making it the first mission to bring back material from an asteroid. The project informed subsequent Japanese sample-return efforts, including Hayabusa2.

Another notable use is in consumer vehicles. Suzuki’s Hayabusa, officially the GSX1300R Hayabusa, is a sport motorcycle introduced in 1999. Named after the falcon, it is recognized for high-speed performance and distinctive styling. The Hayabusa has remained in production with successive updates, cementing its place as a landmark model in sport riding.

Across contexts, the name Hayabusa conveys speed, precision, and a connection to the falcon, the swift raptor that inspired its branding.