Communication with Hayabusa Restored
9 Mar 2006
(Source: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
Communication with the asteroid probe "Hayabusa" has been restored, though it is through a low speed of 32 bps. The Hayabusa's communication with the earth had been lost since November 2005 as the attitude of the spacecraft swayed off course after taking off from the small asteroid "Itokawa."
We have been gradually finding out the current status of the Hayabusa, and, on March 6, we were able to estimate its current position and speed for the first time in three months. The operation team will continue their efforts to have it back to earth by June 2010.