Science Magazine Features Results of Hayabusa Observations
2 Jun 2006
(Source: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
The asteroid probe "Hayabusa," which landed on the asteroid "Itokawa" last November, successfully turned on its ion engine, and it is now aiming to return to Earth in June 2010. The U.S. eminent scientific journal Science features the results of Hayabusa's scientific investigations in its June 2 edition. The "Hayabusa" observed Itokawa's shape, geographical features, reflectance, mineral composite, and gravity from an altitude of three to 20 km, and clarified the Itokawa's structure as a "pile of rubble." Science published seven Hayabusa-related essays, the first time for the magazine to feature a Japanese asteroid probe project. The Hayabusa project also received a "Space Pioneer Award" from the National Space Society of the United States at the International Space Development conference held in Los Angeles in May.