| Hayabusa touchdown
    3D, older version
    Japanese Hayabusa asteroid
    sample return mission In this scene 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 took only a few seconds. It will then bring
    the asteroid sample back to Earth.NASA and JPL are assisting
    in the Hayabusa mission. |