Japan's asteroid touchdown fails

[emad]

An unmanned Japanese space probe sent to collect what would be the world's first samples from an asteroid has failed to touch down on its target.

The Japanese space agency said the Hayabusa probe had got to within 17 metres (56ft) of the asteroid before they temporarily lost contact with it.

The agency said it hoped to make a second attempt to land the craft.

The mission has had several setbacks - last week a mini-robot due to collect data from the asteroid disappeared.

Early on Sunday, the probe descended towards the Itokawa asteroid and hovered about 17m from the surface without completing its descent.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4454152.stm

[psychopomp]

1. le sigh

Another failure for the Japan space agency. I was looking forward the the success of the mission restoring Japan's battered reputation for achievements in space. But, mainly, I was looking forward to the cool science to be afforded by the landing.

[psychopomp]

2. I do realize there is a second opportunity here

so there is still hope they can pull it off.

[phantom power]

3. I'm beginning to take the possibility of sabotage seriously.

It could be my tinfoil hat is on too tight, but there sure have been a lot of probe failures in the last few years. I realize space exploration is difficult, and fixing problems from 50 million miles away is dicy at best. But you'd think humanity's success rate would be improving. Instead, it seems to be deteriorating. It just doesn't add up. :tinfoilhat:

[Phoonzang]

4. I think that could stem from..

..the fact that they've been spending less money on probes in the last 15 years or so. Or not. I don't really understand it either. They can send probes to all of the outer planets and beyond (Voyagers 1 and 2) but have issues getting into orbit around Mars.

[rman]

5. one word: budget cuts

ok that's two words.

the Voyagers were build like tanks, but you can't build tanks on a shoestring budget. you can't even operate a shuttle on a budget like that.