Japan Itokawa asteroid mission set for re-entry

Japan Itokawa asteroid mission set for re-entry

news.bbc.co.uk

Japan's Hayabusa probe returns to Earth on Sunday, releasing a capsule into the atmosphere that scientists hope will contain samples from asteroid Itokawa.

If the 40cm-wide conical disc survives the blistering heat of the descent and can deploy a parachute, it should touch down in Australia at about 1400 GMT.

No-one really knows whether Hayabusa succeeded in grabbing samples from Itokawa's surface during a 2005 visit.

(visit the link for the full news article)


Related News Links:
www.google.com
www.space.com
www.smh.com.au
abcnews.go.com

The capsule needs a special heat-shield to survive re-entry.



Although the grab mechanism failed, dust may still have found its way inside.

This mission could end in a success, and could give scientists our first discovery about the composition of an asteroid.

Hopefully this could pave the way for future asteroid exploration missions in the years to come.

news.bbc.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)