Asteroid Probe on Target for Weekend Landing

Courtesy of Akihiro Ikeshita Courtesy: JAXA  So far…so good. The return of Japan’s Hayabusa spacecraft is near – marking the end of a seven-year journey that may be bringing back samples of its exploration target — asteroid Itokawa  — back to Earth. Flight...

Japan’s Asteroid Probe: On Track for Australian Touchdown

Earth return of Japan’s Hayabusa asteroid probe and release of its sample capsule.  Japan’s asteroid explorer, the Hayabusa spacecraft, is on track for a June 13 reentry into the Woomera Test Range in South Australia. Scientists at the Japan Aerospace Exploration...

Venus Orbiter, Solar Sail: Successful Launch

Japan’s H-IIA Launch Vehicle has successfully lofted the Venus Climate Orbiter, a solar sail experiment and several small mini-payloads. The booster lifted off on May 21 from the Tanegashima Space Center. AKATSUKI, the Venus Climate Orbiter mission (PLANET-C), is on...

Japan Ready to Launch Venus Orbiter, Solar Sail

Japan is ready to launch its Venus Climate Orbiter “Akatsuki” as well as a small solar power sail demonstrator, the IKAROS. The two payloads will be lofted via Japan’s H-2A booster from the Tanegashima Space Center. Liftoff is slated for Monday, May 17 at 5:45 pm east...