Planetary science

Hayabusa

Completed

Image: J. R. C. Garry · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Launched: 9 May 200304:29:25 UTC
Last contact: 13 Jun 2010
End declared: 13 Jun 2010
Duration: 7 years 1 month
Destinations: Itokawa

The first mission to return samples from an asteroid, bringing back grains from Itokawa in 2010 after a seven-year journey troubled by failed reaction wheels, fuel leaks and a lost signal.

Milestones

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2004200520062007200820092010

Spacecraft

Hayabusa

Orbiter

Completed

Ion-engine spacecraft that touched down briefly on Itokawa. Its small hopping rover, MINERVA, missed the asteroid when released.

Launch mass: 509 kg
Dry mass: 359 kg
Size: 1.5 m × 2 m, span 5.7 m
Power: Solar
Built by: NEC
Last contact: 13 Jun 2010
End declared: 13 Jun 2010
Designator: 2003-019A

Mission details from isas.jaxa.jp.