After a series of alternate successes and failures, the Hayabusa probe was claimed to have collected samples from the Itokawa asteroid. It was the first probe ever to collect samples from an asteroid. I did not go wrong with the tense when I said ‘WAS’. The unmanned six-meter (20-foot) craft, supposed to begin returning to Earth in mid-December after the successful landmark mission, faced a problem with one of its thrusters. It was designed to control its position, but because of the trouble, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) failed to set its antenna facing Earth. And until it is fixed it cannot begin its return operation to Earth. A spokesman said that JAXA has to wait for another three years if it misses a planned departure time in mid-December, when a distance between Earth and the asteroid is “ideal for its return trip.’ Tracking back all the hindrances and technical problems it has faced, since its lift-off to this incident, should we live up with the hope that the landmark mission did not end in failure?



Via: Physorg.com