. 24/7 Space News .
Japanese Spacecraft To Make History

Tokyo (UPI) Nov 07, 2005
A Japanese spacecraft will reportedly make history by the end of the month when it touches down on an asteroid 180 million miles from Earth to gather dust.

The satellite -- Hayabusa or "Falcon" -- will make two or three touch-and-goes to create and capture dust on the asteroid Itokawa and then to return to Earth with a 10th of an ounce of asteroid dust, The Washington Post reported Monday.

Hayabusa would become the first spacecraft from Earth to land on a celestial body and bring something back from it since U.S. astronauts collected samples from the moon in 1972.

The spacecraft was launched May 9, 2003. The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency named the asteroid Itokawa, after Hideo Itokawa, the father of the Japanese space program.

Scientists said Hayabusa must finish its mission by the end of the month to be in proper alignment for its 19-month journey to Earth. Hayabusa's re-entry capsule containing the dust samples is to parachute into Australia's southern desert in June 2007.

All rights reserved. � 2005 United Press International. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by United Press International. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of United Press International.

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express

MINERVA Explores The Surface Of Itokawa
Japan (SPX) Nov 04, 2005
MINERVA (MIcro/Nano Experimental Robot Vehicle for Asteroid) is a small robot lander whose weight is less than 600g. Although it is a tiny lander, MINERVA can investigate the surface of Itokawa using three small color CCD cameras.



Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only














The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.