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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Hayabusa update: Capsule retrieved, heat shield found
The major news on the Hayabusa mission this morning is that JAXA has retrieved the sample capsule!
Hayabusa sample capsule photographed on the ground in Australia
Oh my wonderful little flying saucer, you have been to an asteroid and back -- and you were burning like a star last night! And there you are, sitting quietly in the desert, just waiting to be retrieved...
Welcome home, Hayabusa!
At 13:51 UTC, the Hayabusa spacecraft -- having traveled to an asteroid and back, surviving countless challenges-- broke up into a fiery meteor over the midnight, midwinter Australian sky.
Preparing for Hayabusa's return
Only about 40 hours remain for the Hayabusa mission. Its dramatic entry will take place at 14:00 UTC on Sunday, June 13.
IKAROS: Successful sail deployment and solar power generation! Hooray!!
JAXA finally issued the formal announcement: they successfully expanded IKAROS' square sail!
Hayabusa: Waiting
We're in the final days of the Hayabusa mission, but until Sunday I think we're in a state of
Hayabusa's final approach on target; Japan's ready to receive samples
Hayabusa's final maneuver, a three-hour
Progress -- with pictures! -- on IKAROS' sail deployment
Several pictures from the sail deployment monitoring cameras showed up on the IKAROS blog overnight.
IKAROS team proceeds with final stage of sail deployment!
Just a brief update on IKAROS: According to their blog, JAXA has decided to proceed with the final stage of IKAROS' sail deployment.
Hayabusa: "I did my best!"
While he was in Japan to observe IKAROS' sail deployment, Lou Friedman couldn't help but notice the country's excitement over the impending return of Hayabusa.
A brief history of Hayabusa
For those of you who found my Hayabusa mission recap too long, here's a graphical version of the history of the Hayabusa mission.
Six days left for Hayabusa: A recap of the mission
The Hayabusa spacecraft is about to die. On Sunday, June 13, at 14:00 UTC, Hayabusa will burn up in Earth's atmosphere, bringing its dramatic seven-year mission to an end.
IKAROS update: Rotation rate inexplicably increasing
JAXA's end-of-Sunday update on IKAROS' status gives more details about an issue they are working on the spacecraft. The spacecraft itself is in perfect health, but its dynamics are different from what was expected.
Taking things slowly with IKAROS sail deployment
Planetary Society Executive Director Lou Friedman was at JAXA's Japanese Space Exploration Center to observe the deployment of IKAROS' solar sails.
IKAROS sail deployment proceeding
Planetary Society Executive Director Lou Friedman is at JAXA's Japanese Space Exploration Center to observe the deployment of IKAROS' solar sails.
Falcon 9 ready for first flight
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is poised for its maiden flight tomorrow, Friday, June 4, between 11:00 and 15:00 Eastern time.
Lou Friedman is "our man in Japan" to watch IKAROS sail deployment
Planetary Society Executive Director Lou Friedman is now in Japan, joining the rest of the IKAROS team to watch the eagerly anticipated deployment of its solar sails.
Phoenix is dead...long live Phoenix!
The latest HiRISE images of the Phoenix polar lander, taken near Mars' northern summer solstice, show why we haven't heard from the spacecraft since it fell silent on November 2, 2008: it appears the solar panels have collapsed.
What's up in the solar system in June 2010
The greatest drama in June 2010 will come from two Japanese missions.
Dawn Journal: Surveying Vesta
After more than 2.5 years of spaceflight, and more than 6 months in the asteroid belt, Dawn's interplanetary journey continues smoothly.