A Japanese asteroid probe is a step closer to coming home – possibly with a piece of space rock on board – after firing its thruster to stay on course for a plan June 13 landing.The probe, called Hayabusa, start by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency in May 2003, is returning from the nearby asteroid 25143 Itokawa, where it land and tried to collect samples.
The beleaguered probe reached the asteroid in 2005, but has suffered a number of malfunctions during flight that have extended its mission nearly three years longer than planned.Mission scientists are not even sure if Hayabusa managed to collect samples on Itokawa but they still hope the explore managed to problem at least some asteroid dust and pebbles inside a collection canister.
The 950-pound (430-kg) spacecraft's sample return capsule is scheduled to land back on Earth June 13 at the Woomera Test Range in the waste of South Australia. In the recent maneuver JAXA was able to shift the probe's path from Earth's outer edge toward its intended landing site in Australia. The spacecraft is currently about 3.6 million kilometers away from Earth.The move went successfully, which was a nice break for the spacecraft after the lengthy string of engineering difficulties it has suffered since leaving its asteroid aim.
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