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Tokyo, Japan (XNA) Nov 17, 2010 An analysis of some 1,500 particles found in the Hayabusa explorer's capsule revealed that most of them originated from rocks on the asteroid Itokawa, according to the Japanese science and technology minister, Yoshiaki Takaki on Tuesday. It is the first time that a specimen of material from an asteroid has been obtained, the Kyodo News reported. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) plans to examine these particles further in cooperation with scientists across the country, with the hope of shedding light on the solar system's origin, as Itokawa is said to have maintained its form from the time the solar system was created 4.6 billion years ago, Kyodo said. Hayabusa was launched in 2003. It reached an asteroid named Itokawa in 2005 and made two touchdowns on it in November the same year. The spacecraft experienced a fuel leak and loss of contact with Earth for seven weeks before returning to earth in June.
Source: Source: Xinhua
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Related Links Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Asteroid and Comet Mission News, Science and Technology
Japan confirms space probe brought home asteroid dustTokyo (AFP) Nov 16, 2010 A Japanese deep-space probe became the first ever to collect asteroid dust during a seven-year voyage that ended with its return to Earth over the Australian desert this year, Japan said Tuesday. The news crowns with success the journey of the unmanned Hayabusa probe, which five years ago made a pinpoint landing on an asteroid 300 million kilometres (186 million miles) from Earth - about tw ... read more |
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