Posted 07.06.2010 at 10:20 am
2 Comments
Dust Particle Brought by Hayabusa Probe
JAXA
JAXA, the Japanese space agency, has released the first photographs of the interior of the Hayabusa probe. Last week, we were starting to fear that the seven-year mission had returned to Earth without the crumbs of asteroid Itokawa that it had been sent for. But that photo looks promising.
In the image, a microscopic manipulator made of quartz is grabbing a teeny piece of something.
Reportedly, the mechanism designed to capture bits of the asteroid malfunctioned (perhaps when Hayabusa was hit by a solar flare), and did not grab the chunks of rock it was supposed to. But the researchers now believe that some bits of asteroid dust, kicked up by the probe's landing, made their way into the capture chamber regardless.
Analysis of the dust is proceeding.
[BBC]
2 Comments
To comment, please Login.
Popular Tags
Technology
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 2013: American Energy Independence
Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.
Popular on Popsci
Most Commented
Technology
- Defense Distributed's Cody Wilson On Being Told To Remove 3-D Printed Gun Plans: "We Win"
- This Newer, Stronger 3-D Printed Gun Costs Just $25
- Thieves Stole $45 Million From ATMs Because The U.S. Uses Absurd 40-Year-Old Technology
- Autonomous X-47B Jet Fighter Makes Historic First Launch From An Aircraft Carrier
- Russia Is Building Robots To 'Neutralize' Terrorists
- How To Turn An AK-47 Into A Soup Ladle
- America's Road To Energy Independence, Part 1
- Mapping The Simpsons' Slow Descent Into Suckitude
- Iran Unveils Absurd New Stealth Drone
- College Students Make First-Ever Successful Flight And Landing Of A Concrete Airplane
Most Emailed
Technology
- Robotic Kite Power Could Turn The Sky Into A Wind Farm
- These 11 Robot Bartenders Will Get You Drunk
- 11 Robot Bartenders That Will Get You Drunk
- Brazilian Government Invests In Robocops To Prep For World Cup, Olympics
- The BBC's New Radio Can Alter Broadcasts Based On Who's Listening
- Social Media Replaces Police Missing Persons Searches In France
- New Water-Repellant Fabric Is Like A Second Skin
- U.S. Army Creates Shoebox-Size Universal Battery Charger
- Who Wouldn't Want To Stay In This Totally Insane Space Hotel!?
- Big Pic: Eruption Of Alaska's Pavlof Volcano, As Seen From The International Space Station
Most Viewed
Technology
- Robotic Kite Power Could Turn The Sky Into A Wind Farm
- 11 Robot Bartenders That Will Get You Drunk
- These 11 Robot Bartenders Will Get You Drunk
- Brazilian Government Invests In Robocops To Prep For World Cup, Olympics
- The BBC's New Radio Can Alter Broadcasts Based On Who's Listening
- Social Media Replaces Police Missing Persons Searches In France
- New Water-Repellant Fabric Is Like A Second Skin
- U.S. Army Creates Shoebox-Size Universal Battery Charger
- Who Wouldn't Want To Stay In This Totally Insane Space Hotel!?
- Big Pic: Eruption Of Alaska's Pavlof Volcano, As Seen From The International Space Station
Online Content Director: Suzanne LaBarre | Email
Senior Editor: Paul Adams | Email
Associate Editor: Dan Nosowitz | Email
Assistant Editor: Colin Lecher | Email
Assistant Editor: Rose Pastore | Email
Contributing Writers:
Kelsey D. Atherton | Email
Francie Diep | Email
Shaunacy Ferro | Email
Today on PopSci.com
Copyright © 2012 Popular Science
A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
You would think by now they would learn to just send two of everything from now on. Send em up together and tell one to go first, then the second a short time later, this way the success rate will be higher.
I mean, after all the problems and failures in the past with space, you would think they would have a plan B in place. If your going to spend a lot of money on something, why not build twice the product and twice the cost and at least get results instead of building one, failing and then having to stoop your head in shame.
Its like washing and waxing your car, spending hours cleaning it, then it rains the next morning. Wasted work, if you just planned ahead or bothered to check the weather, or even have two cars and a garage, you could leave the clean one in and take the dirty one.
Build two space thingamabobers, leave one in the garage in space, and take the other one first. Then, if things look alright, send the other, if not, hold off for a little bit.
Your welcome :D
Asteroid dandruff.