Japanese craft to deliver space rock to outback

[MikeyB (Michael)]

510 kg of hi-tech Japanese spacecraft is heading for Australia in June, returning from a deep space asteroid rendezvous:

Hayabusa will become the first spacecraft to bring asteroid material to Earth!

[JimmyH155]

Is this the satellite that has been badly damaged and has been nursed back??
How will it land?? Parachute perhaps??
Sounds exciting

[Baddad (Marty)]

Hi MikeyB,

Pristine condition. That will be interesting.Asteroid samples not being heat affected. How long before we hear the results of initial investigations I wonder.

Cheers Marty

[gary]

Re-entry at approx 14:00 UTC June 13th 2010.

Originally Posted by JAXA

Hayabusa, if seen, will be a little east of Pollux in Gemini this April and May. Hayabusa approaches Earth right along on the line of the sight.

See http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/mis.../trj.shtml#new
See http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/topics/2010/0421.shtml

[MikeyB (Michael)]

It appears that the Japanese aren't sure whether any samples were in fact collected, so the project could turn out to have failed in its primary mission:

Wikipedia: Hayabusa

Even without samples, if they can achieve a successful return and landing, I'd rate it as an incredible demonstration of technical prowess, that I hope will be followed by more such attempts.