A girl modeled after the M-V (Mu-5) Rocket.

Her job is to hurl satellites into deep space. She's quite able, but the work is a bit rough.

Her special move is a high kick after a 3-stage hurl.

Launched at 1:29:25 PM Japan time on May 9, 2003.

at 20 sec, exceeded Mach 1,

at 75 sec, 1st stage detached,

at 200 sec, 2nd stage detached,

at 370 sec, 3rd stage detached,

...and at 610 sec, M-V completed its role and released Hayabusa.

This is the common name for "gravitational slingshot" or "gravity assist maneuver" in Japan. The technique involves using the gravity of planetary bodies to accelerate, decelerate, modify orbit, and so on.

Hayabusa used this technique to harness the gravity of earth for acceleration.

In this comic, it is portrayed as a hammer throw technique.

This is the three-stage solid fuel rocket transported Hayabusa into space. It is loaded with a "trump card", the fourth-stage Optional Kick Stage Motor.

The actual M-V series rocket is on display at the JAXA Sagamihara campus.