Japanese space probe to intentionally collide with Earth

William Atkins
Friday, 12 June 2009 20:12

Science - Space

The National Geographic article states, “For example, he noted, a comet or meteorite a mere 197 feet (60 meters) wide is thought to have caused the Tunguska event of 1908. That blast, which flattened large swaths of Siberian forest, was a thousand times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.”

So, the final goal of the JAXA spacecraft is to simulate the approach of a PHA to Earth.

The 1,124-pound (510-kilogram) probe will likely disintegrate while it travels through Earth’s atmosphere so it is of little danger to people of Earth.

The Hayabusa spacrcraft is expected to release its canister of asteroid material in June 2010. The canister is expected to land in the Australian Outback.

To see a movie of its mission, please go to: CG of HAYABUSA mission from its launch to return to Earth.

And, go to the YouTube site “The Great Challenges of "HAYABUSA" - World's first asteroid sample return mission.”

For more information about its goals and accomplishments while flying next to the asteroid, check out the JAXA Web site “Hayabusa's Scientific and Engineering Achievements during Proximity Operations around Itokawa.”