Woomera - June 13, 2010 - Marcabs Return Woomera Prohibited Area, June 13 2010 - the repeatedly failed (and now, Marcabian infiltrated) Japanese Hyabusa spacecraft is expected to make its glorious return to Earth. [spoiler] As of April 2010, all primary and secondary propulsion and control systems are dead- its now being steered by a makeshift ion drive and expected to make a pretty fireball in the evening sky. And a small sample return capsule (which may or may not contain material scraped from the surface) of asteroid Itokaya will be delivered to South Australia. Hayabusa update: Traverse to night-side approach successful - The Planetary Society Blog | The Planetary Society http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayabusa#In_proximity_of_Itokawa Why its kinda a big deal: first landing and sample return from anything other than the Moon, and the first since Apollo. Radio contact *failed* on the flight out, resumed as it approached, *failed* just before landing. Returned briefly, and then was out for awhile. Japanese scientists do not know what occurred at Itokaya, but aren't particularly worried. No clue what its bringing back (no photos, no dox). As of April 1, flying more or less out-of-control, but with an optimistic outlook. ISAS | Asteroid Explorer Information about HAYABUSA / Asteroid Explorer HAYABUSA [/spoiler] Its probably too late for poons. And I doubt you've got the delta-V Raiding the Woomera Prohibited Area could be... sketchy. Are there any brave Anons in South Australia up, to welcome our overlords as they return? Unsure if it (spacecraft fireball) will be visible from great range. The pod containing [asteroid dust, or nothing, or ???] likely won't be visible. Its not unlikely the Japanese may accidentally the whole
Re: Woomera - June 13, 2010 - Marcabs Return BUMP!!! arrival @ 11:21pm local time. fireball will be about mag -7 Possibly visible from Adelaide. Probably visible from Whyalla / Port Augusta Anyone closer will probably be dead.
Re: Woomera - June 13, 2010 - Marcabs Return If only we hadn't pushed so many OT8's out of Oz, there might still be enough left down there to postulate this baby in for a safe landing.
