Hayabusa spacecraft streaked across the sky through the clouds as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere over the Woomera Test Range in Australia. In Kingoonya, the re-entry was visible to the human eye for only 15 seconds.
Hayabusa's sample return capsule lies in the Australian wilderness.
A team of researchers examines Hayabusa's sample return capsule.
A researcher processes the sample return capsule of Hayabusa.
Hayabusa's sample return capsule and parachute lie on the ground in Australia's Woomera Prohibited Area.
The sample return capsule (inside a box) from Japan's Hayabusa asteroid probe is transported by helicopter to the Instrumentation Building inside the Woomera Test Range after its June 13, 2010 landing. At that site, a temporary clean room had been set up
This still from a NASA video shows the Hayabusa spacecraft as it burned up over Australia during re-entry on June 13, 2010 to cap a 7-year mission to the asteroid Itokawa. Hayabusa ejected a sample return capsule (bright dot at lower right) before burning up. It landed in the Australian outback and has been recovered.
Yoshiyuki Hasegawa, Associate Executive Director, International Space Station Program, JAXA, briefs media at the Press Conference Centre at Woomera prior to the Hayabusa re-entry.
Hayabusa spacecraft's return capsule and parachute lie on the ground in the Australian outback.
JAXA personnel at work. Click to enlarge
Hayabusa spacecraft re-enters the atmosphere in a dazzling streak.
Hayabusa spacecraft burns up as it crosses the sky.
See photos of Japan's Hayabusa capsule returning to Earth after reaching asteroid Itokawa. This Earth image was taken by Hayabusa as it neared the planet.
