Japan probe collected particles from Itokawa asteroid

A gloved hand wipes the inside of the capsule with a clean spatula Japanese scientists have confirmed that particles found inside the Hayabusa probe after its seven-year space trip are from the asteroid Itokawa. A statement from the country's space agency said microscopic analysis of 1,500 grains retrieved from the craft's sample canister proved they were of extraterrestrial origin. The announceme

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Professor Trevor Ireland is an Australian scientist working on the mission and was involved in the preliminary examination."The identification of extraterrestrial particles in the Hayabusa sample capsule is an astounding achievement," he said.