Cnet Article by by Tim Hornyak: Scientists find asteroid probe, need can opener

Article Notes: None

From Article: Scientists have recovered part of a Japanese space probe that returned to Earth after landing on an asteroid to collect samples, and they're preparing to open it. At least The Andromeda Strain inspired them to wear helmets and body armor.

The sample container from the Hayabusa probe parachuted to a soft landing in the Australian Outback on Sunday. The fridge-size probe burned up in spectacular fashion on reentry (see the NASA video below).

There was no damage to the mushroom-shaped container, and the probe's heat shield was also found, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Cnet Article by by Tim Hornyak:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20007925-1.html?part=rss&subj=news&t...

__________________

Christian Science Monitor Article by Clara Moskowitz

Article: Japanese asteroid probe returns to Earth after a journey of roughly 1.25 billion miles

Article Notes: None

A Japanese space capsule returned to Earth and plunged through the atmosphere over the Australian outback Sunday, capping a seven-year space journey that took it to a nearby asteroid in a historic attempt to collect pieces of a billion-year-old space rock.

The capsule, released by Japan's Hayabusa asteroid probe, returned around 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) in the Woomera Prohibited Area of South Australia.

The re-entry capsule, which may contain a precious space rock sample, separated from the rest of the spacecraft about three hours before it plummeted down to Earth.

Christian Science Monitor Article: http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/0614/Japanese-asteroid-probe-retur...

______________

SpaceRef Article by Ken Kremer: Japanese Asteroid Lander Hayabusa Plunges Home to Earth

Article Notes: None

Article:

Japan's Hayabasa asteroid probe staged a breathtakingly beautiful plunge through Earth's atmosphere earlier today (Jun 13) at over 27,000 MPH, the second fastest on record. The heat shield protected the craft from the fiery heat of reentry which exceeded 5000 F.

JAXA confirmed that the 16 inch wide Earth return capsule separated from its mother ship and parachuted safely into the remote South Australian outback of the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) at about 10:11 EDT, or 11:41 PM local Australian time. Woomera is a huge Australian military territory.

SpaceRef Article: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.rss.html?id=1402

________________

Advertisement:

Astronomy: A Self-Teaching Guide (Wiley Self-Teaching Guides) [Paperback]

________________