Was Hayabusa Damaged In Second Asteroid Landing Attempt? | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.29.24

Airborne-NextGen-04.30.24

 Airborne-Unlimited-05.01.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers--05.02.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.03.24

Mon, Nov 28, 2005

Was Hayabusa Damaged In Second Asteroid Landing Attempt?

Thrusters Latest Issue To Strike Trouble-Prone Probe

A Japanese spacecraft on an unprecedented mission to collect samples from an asteroid and bring them home to Earth is indeed on its way back -- but may have been damaged in landing.

All engines aboard the Hayabusa lander were shut down for a time as it hovered about three miles above the Itokawa asteroid. It had been vibrating as if one of its thrusters had developed a leak of some sort.

The probe now appears to be stabilizing, and the Japanese Space Agency JAXA will reportedly restart its engines December 10th for the long trek home.

It was the second landing attempt for Hayabusa. As was reported in Aero-News last week, JAXA lost touch with the spacecraft as it made its first attempt. It wasn't until the probe had lifted off again and communications were re-established that JAXA controller realized the Hayabusa ship had indeed landed, for approximately 30 minutes.

The question JAXA controllers were asking after that attempt is the same they're asking now: was the probe able to collect any samples from the asteroid's surface? The answer may not be apparent until the robotic spacecraft returns to Earth -- in June 2007.

FMI: www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.30.24): Runway Centerline Lighting

Runway Centerline Lighting Flush centerline lights spaced at 50-foot intervals beginning 75 feet from the landing threshold and extending to within 75 feet of the opposite end of t>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.30.24)

Aero Linx: Air Force Global Strike Command Air Force Global Strike Command, activated August 7, 2009, is a major command with headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, i>[...]

Airborne 04.24.24: INTEGRAL E, Elixir USA, M700 RVSM

Also: Viasat-uAvionix, UL94 Fuel Investigation, AF Materiel Command, NTSB Safety Alert Norges Luftsportforbund chose Aura Aero's little 2-seater in electric trim for their next gli>[...]

Airborne 04.29.24: EAA B-25 Rides, Textron 2024, G700 Deliveries

Also: USCG Retires MH-65 Dolphins, Irish Aviation Authority, NATCA Warns FAA, Diamond DA42 AD This summer, history enthusiasts will have a unique opportunity to experience World Wa>[...]

Airborne-NextGen 04.23.24: UAVOS UVH 170, magni650 Engine, World eVTOL Directory

Also: Moya Delivery Drone, USMC Drone Pilot, Inversion RAY Reentry Vehicle, RapidFlight UAVOS has recently achieved a significant milestone in public safety and emergency services >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne 05.03.24: Advanced Powerplant Solutions, PRA Runway Woes, Drone Racing

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.02.24: Bobby Bailey, SPRG Report Cards, Skydive!

Airborne 05.01.24: WACO Kitchen, FAA Reauthorization, World Skydiving Day

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC