Hayabusa Update

Top Men have been following the JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Hayabusa spacecraft since our last Wohba update.* It has become the first spacecraft in history to sucessfully land on, and take-off from an asteroid. Here's what's going on.

Nov. 20 - Hayabusa sucessfully landed on the surface of asteroid Itokawa. A metal marker was shot to the surface just prior to the touchdown. Hayabusa landed for 30 minutes and then lifted off. There were problems after lift-off that delayed getting any data for a few days. Nobody was sure what happened until communications was fixed. The probe did not collect any samples. There are a few good images here of the probe's approach.

Nov. 25 - A second landing attempt - Hayabusa apparently landed successfully, scooped up a sample and took off again. Communication was established quickly and data was analyzed. An image is here (thumbnail above.) Top Men will post more as they are available.

Nothing left but to head home and deliver the goods.

A live blog is sometimes here.

UPDATE (11/28): Here is a great description of what transpired in the JAXA control room during this final descent. Roughly translated, but heartfelt and inspiring!

UPDATE (12/6): Whoops! Maybe JAXA spoke too soon. It appears now that Haybusa may not have collected the sample after all. And a fuel leak is likely to compromise the crafts ability to return to earth. Oh well - got a few nice pics.

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* Previous Update