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Hayabusa Probe Fails Landing Attempt

Posted by Zonk on from the so-close dept.

wschalle writes "Yesterday, at 3:46 PM EST the probe successfully dropped a small object onto the asteroid as a touchdown target. JAXA then apparently lost control of the probe for 3 hours. The probe went to an auto-pilot mode during the communications failure, collecting data about its flight and saving it for later transmission. The probe's exact location is unknown, but it is estimated to be between 10 and 100 kilometers from the asteroid at this time. The mission has been troubled by repeated failures, including the loss of a small robotic lander, and a gyroscope failure that was later repaired."

7 of 86 comments (clear)

  1. Close. by Chickenofbristol55 · · Score: 4, Funny
    but it is estimated to be between 10 and 100 kilometers from the asteroid at this time.

    That's kind of like that epidemiologist saying "the deaths from the bird flu could range from 5 to 150 million"

    The point is we have no idea. It's easier that way, trust me.

    --
    public class null extends java applet { System.out.print ("Tabula Rasa"); }
  2. JAXA vs AJAX by middlemen · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, is it me, or did I just think that Zonk made a typing error and wrote JAXA instead of AJAX....!! ??
    Or maybe too many AJAX stories have clouded my judgement :)

  3. DRM aboard by k00110 · · Score: 4, Funny
    communications failure
    The sony rootkit was calling home at that time
  4. Heh. by Visceral+Monkey · · Score: 2, Funny

    I blame Mothra.

    --
    *Fortitudo, aequitas, fidelitas.*
  5. Re:Well.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "meat up"? Wha... ...eww. Just forget I asked.

  6. NOOOOO! by Xaositecte · · Score: 4, Funny

    Definantely the work of Jaquio...

  7. lost and found by G-Sil · · Score: 3, Funny

    " the probe successfully dropped a small object onto the asteroid as a touchdown target. JAXA then apparently lost control of the probe for 3 hours. " I still think the object they dropped was really really really important.