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Hayabusa To Begin Long Journey Back to Earth

Posted by Zonk on from the any-mission-you-can-walk-away-from-right dept.

Sparky writes "Japan is planning to set the Hayabusa spacecraft on a trajectory back to Earth next month after a delay of more than a year, but it's far from certain that it will get back safely. It was supposed to retrieve asteroid debris, but it's thought that a computer error prevented that from happening. A fuel leak means that its chemical thrusters are out of action, and the craft is relying on its weaker ion engines. The journey back will take 3 years, and the capsule will be on Earth in June 2010 — even if it is empty."

3 of 92 comments (clear)

  1. obligatory by President_Camacho · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hayabusa To Begin Long Journey Back to Earth
    I'm sure Ken and Guile miss him.

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    Wizard Needs Food, Badly
  2. By chance? by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 5, Funny

    The navigation systems shut down for 13 months, only 2/16 engines work reliably, 2/3 of the wheels failed and pellet gyn failed to fire. Yet they're bringing it back to Earth "in case some asteroid dust had slipped into its collection chamber by chance." Because they're feeling lucky?

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  3. Heh. by Funkcikle · · Score: 5, Funny

    "My God...it's full of...nothing..."