Japan launches MUSES-C asteroid mission
Posted: Fri, May 9, 2003, 9:04 AM ET (1304 GMT)
A M-5 rocket successfully launched the first asteroid sample return mission early Friday. The M-5 rocket lifted off from the Kagoshima Space Center in southern Japan at 12:29 am EDT (0429 GMT) Friday and put the MUSES-C spacecraft on a trajectory towards the asteroid 1998 SF36. MUSES-C is scheduled to arrive at the asteroid in mid-2005, after completing an Earth flyby next year. The asteroid will spend five months at the asteroid, conducting observation as well as gathering a tiny sample of the asteroid itself. MUSES-C will depart the asteroid in late 2005 and return to Earth in mid-2007. The sample will return to Earth in a reentry capsule that will parachute to the surface in the Australian outback. The mission is Japan's first to an asteroid, as well as the first mission by any nation to return an asteroid sample to the Earth. The launch was the first for the solid-propellant M-5 rocket since the launch failure of ASTRO-E astronomy spacecraft in February 2000.
A M-5 rocket successfully launched the first asteroid sample return mission early Friday. The M-5 rocket lifted off from the Kagoshima Space Center in southern Japan at 12:29 am EDT (0429 GMT) Friday and put the MUSES-C spacecraft on a trajectory towards the asteroid 1998 SF36. MUSES-C is scheduled to arrive at the asteroid in mid-2005, after completing an Earth flyby next year. The asteroid will spend five months at the asteroid, conducting observation as well as gathering a tiny sample of the asteroid itself. MUSES-C will depart the asteroid in late 2005 and return to Earth in mid-2007. The sample will return to Earth in a reentry capsule that will parachute to the surface in the Australian outback. The mission is Japan's first to an asteroid, as well as the first mission by any nation to return an asteroid sample to the Earth. The launch was the first for the solid-propellant M-5 rocket since the launch failure of ASTRO-E astronomy spacecraft in February 2000.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, July 19
Dark matter could resonate through a hidden fifth dimension, new theory proposes
Univ. of Sheffield — 5:46 pm ET (2146 GMT) India’s INR1,600 Crore Sovereign Space Fund, Antariksh Venture Capital Fund, Makes Inaugural Investment in Dhruva Space
Dhruva Space — 5:46 pm ET (2146 GMT) The Honorable Christopher J. Scolese departs the National Reconnaissance Office after seven years of distinguished leadership
NRO — 5:39 pm ET (2139 GMT) Lunar Outpost Europe Joins Moonraker Lunar Mapping Mission for ESA
GlobeNewswire — 5:37 pm ET (2137 GMT) International conference brings space specialists to Santa Maria
Portuguese Space Agency — 5:34 pm ET (2134 GMT) |
