Since, the Space Race or even before the human race have gazed upon the stars, we have always wondered what is really out there in the vast boundless area of of the universe. The moon landing was the biggest leap for mankind. Although, it was shadowed with controversies, as to we ever did step on the moon. Getting there was the first step and going back with "presents" is the most successful thing.
After a seven year journey, the Japanese made satellite, Hayabusa, has finally come home. Launched in May 2003 to land and get samples from Itokawa, a potato shaped asteroid. The $200 million Asteroid Chaser had traveled 2.5 billion miles, collects dust and hope to return home with the collected samples on a 3.53 containers it carries & the best part is, melt into the earth sky during its re-entry and hopes that it releases the capsule containing the expected samples.
How it will collect samples?
According to scientists, Hayabusa, fires a bullet on to the asteroids surface once it land. In that action, the splinters from the asteroids surface will be sucked in to its container. But, they weren't sure if the bullet did fire. So, they are hoping that on its landing, on the asteroid, would somehow forced some dust or materials to go upward to the collection chamber.
What will be the benefits of its return?
Aside that, Hayabusa will be the first man made satellite to have contact with an asteroid, the samples that it collects will be of great importance in understanding the heavenly bodies and the theories of its formation will be known. The universe is too big and the 2.5 billion miles, the satellite traveled, is just a tiny pixel of it. Although, the samples are not enough to comprehend the heavenly bodies, it is much better than picking up from samples from a meteorite which most likely to be contaminated with earths particles.
If the Hayabusa, thus brought us samples, it will be studied and it will distributed to researchers in the world. How will divide the samples, well it depends. But, according to scientists, one microscopic grain can be sliced into 100 parts and farmed to researchers all over the world.
The Hayabusa, wich means Falcon, will re-enter to earth on Sunday night above the Outback of Australia. It is expected to be seen above the Woomera Prohibited Area.
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