Hayabusa Asteroid Mission Returning to Earth
April 21, 2010
The Japanese government said on Wednesday that the Hayabusa spacecraft, which has journeyed to an asteroid, is expected to return to Earth at a remote site in the Australian outback sometime in June.
Defense Minister John Faulkner said the Hayabusa craft is expected to touch down near Woomera in South Australia.
"This has been an historic mission," Faulkner said of the Hayabusa, which reached the Itokawa asteroid in late 2005.
"It is the first time a spacecraft has made contact with an asteroid and returned to earth."
He said that Australian authorities will assist JAXA in recovering the Hayabusa spacecraft and are involved in preparations for its final flight path.
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