Japanese Asteroid Spacecraft Hayabusa Set to Return on Sunday
Hayabusa re-entry plan (Credit: JAXA)
The Japanese satellite Hayabusa (MUSES-C) returns home after a seven year journey in space on Sunday with a landing in the Australian Woomera range. Launched on May 9, 2003, the spacecraft rendezvoused with the asteroid Itokawa in 2005. The spacecraft landed on the asteroid; scientists are hoping that it collected soil samples that will be contained in the re-entry capsule.
The following are main capsule reentry plans.
Sunday, June 13 19:51 JST (6:51 a.m. EDT) : Capsule separation
Sunday, June 13 22:51 JST (9:51 a.m. EDT): Capsule reentry
One response to “Japanese Asteroid Spacecraft Hayabusa Set to Return on Sunday”
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It’s here! Safe and well, down under. I am relieved that the entry, decent and landing phase went well.