Hayabusa (spacecraft)

Hayabusa, operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is a spacecraft designed to study and collect samples from asteroids. Launched in 2003, it traveled to asteroid Itokawa, mapping its surface, analyzing its composition, and gathering tiny rock and dust particles. After returning to Earth in 2010, Hayabusa delivered these samples for scientists to study, providing insights into the early solar system and the origins of life. Its mission demonstrated advanced spacecraft navigation and sample collection techniques, paving the way for future asteroid explorations.