It was the first time that Japan has retrieved experimental materials from space without help from other nations, such as the United States or Russia, said the government-supported Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer (USEF).

"I applaud the return of the Unmanned Space Experiment Recovery System (USERS) and its retrieval. This is the first time that (part of) a satellite returns from orbit," to be recovered by Japan by itself, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said in a statement.

"I believe this demonstrates to the rest of the world Japan's high level of technology," the statement said.

The USERS was launched in September 10, 2002, on a domestically developed H-IIA rocket to establish the unmanned autonomous-return system and to conduct crystal growth experiments involving high temperature super conductive material under low-gravity environment, USEF said.

USEF, which is conducting the 23-billion-yen (196.6 million dollar) project, believes that the superconductive materials were produced in two of three electric furnaces inside the capsule, said Takayoshi Fuji, USEF official.

"We believe we will have very large pieces of superconductive materials. Those are very difficult to produce (on the Earth) because it is difficult to keep out impurities," Fuji said.

Japanese researchers will analyse the growth of the crystal and will try to replicate the process, he said.

Such technology could have a wide range of applications, including development of magnetically levitated (MAGLEV) trains and efficient electric energy storage systems, Fuji said.

The final analysis of the recovered material will be available in about two years, Fuji said.

SPACE.WIRE