Hayabusa Captured Asteroid Dust Confirmed

astroengine writes "It's been a seven-year roller-coaster ride for the asteroid sample return mission, but JAXA — the Japanese space agency — has confirmed that 1,500 particles of dust from the surface of asteroid Itokawa have been found inside the sample return capsule. The capsule parachuted to Earth shortly before the Hayabusa spacecraft reentered over the Australian Outback in June. Since then, scientists have been painstakingly analyzing the capsule's contents to make sure the dust they found wasn't terrestrial contamination. Now they are sure, making this the first time a sample has been collected from the surface of an asteroid (and only the second time a sample has been returned from a celestial object, the first being the Moon missions)."

Comments

YOU FAIL IT!

[Anonymous Coward]

track of :where confirmed that *BSD philosophies must flaws in the BSD

My God, Am I the Only One Who Sees What's Going On

[SeriouslyNoClue]

Did you know that NASA helped the Japanese recover this capsule? I expect everyone's more than a little shocked that your tax dollars are going towards helping a competing nation beat us in the race to harness asteroids.

Years from now when Japan directs an asteroid down into the center of the USA, I'll be saying "I told you so" while the Japanese government makes Fat Man and Little Boy look like firecrackers.

Seriously, there used to be patriots in this country and now it's just apologists and internal enemies working against us to help other nations.

Re:My God, Am I the Only One Who Sees What's Going

[BJ_Covert_Action]

Well at least your nickname is fitting....