Hayabusa Sets Sights on Planet Earth for June Return (from Asteroid Landing)

[Wilms]

Hayabusa Sets Sights on Planet Earth for June Return

BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW

March 13, 2010

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Hayabusa, which means peregrine falcon in Japanese, could be carrying bits of rock or gravel-like material in the return capsule from asteroid Itokawa. The spacecraft spent about two months studying the asteroid in 2005, and even touched down on Itokawa for about 30 minutes in a botched sample collection descent.

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Researchers are still hopeful a small amount of asteroid material was collected as the sample funnel struck Itokawa's surface.

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The Hayabusa spacecraft is now limping through space, propelled by a makeshift ion engine using components from two powerplants previously declared failed. Ground teams rigged the new thrusting technique after Hayabusa's last fully operational engine stopped working in November.

Hayabusa is also down to one reaction wheel to maintain the probe's orientation in space. The craft's other two reaction wheels failed within two years of launch.

Engineers are also worried that residual propellant from a 2005 fuel leak could still coat the spacecraft's outer skin. When Hayabusa travels closer to the sun as it approaches Earth, the fuel could heat up and evaporate, causing an "eruption" that may send the spacecraft in an out-of-control tumble, according to project officials.

Assuming Hayabusa survives those toils, the spacecraft's return capsule must survive a fiery-hot re-entry into the atmosphere with a heat shield two years beyond its design life.

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http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1003/13hayabusa/


http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/ap_051123_hayabusa_update.html

[miyazaki]

1. limping home, hope it makes it!! n/t