Japan's Hayabusa
asteroid sample return mission
This is my first version showing
Hayabusa is touching it's sample collection horn to the surface
of asteroid Itokawa. The tiny MINERVA rover can be seen hopping
(below, right). There is also a small blue target marker on the
surface that Hayabusa released to guide it safely to the surface.
The entire sample collection process only takes one second. It
will then bring the asteroid sample back to Earth.
NASA and JPL are assisting
in the Hayabusa mission. |