Hayabusa at asteroid Itokawa. Artwork of the Hayabusa spacecraft at asteroid 25143 Itokawa in 2005. This unmanned probe was launched by the Japanese space agency (JAXA) in 2003,returning to Earth in 2010. While at the asteroid,it landed and collected samples for later analysis. This asteroid,535 metres on its longest side,orbits the Sun in the vicinity of the orbits of Earth and Mars. Analysis found that the asteroid consists of meteorite-like chondrites. This mission was the first time samples had been returned from an asteroid. The mission also showed that ion engines could be used for an extended period (over 2 years) | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Cook, Lynette |
Bildgröße: | 3698 px × 4755 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |