VOX POPULI: Hayabusa capsule seems empty, but maybe not

When sand falls from a shoe after a day spent on the seashore, the dryness of the grain provides an instant reminder of a fun time spent on the scorching beach. It serves as proof of having made the visit.

Wouldn't it be romantic to make your very own hourglass with memories of your trips?

The space probe Hayabusa returned to Earth earlier this month after an epic journey to land on the asteroid Itokawa to collect sand and dust samples, or "memories," if you will.

While it burned up upon its re-entry into the atmosphere, its capsule landed safely. An X-ray inspection of the capsule showed that it does not contain sand particles measuring 1 millimeter or more. But there is still a chance that minute particles of dust are trapped inside, according to researchers.

But even if no sand trickles from the capsule, it does not diminish the feat accomplished by Hayabusa. It was the first time a spacecraft has landed on an asteroid and returned to Earth.

The image of the probe's characteristic black shadow projected on the surface of Itokawa will be engraved in our minds; as will another showing the Hayabusa burning up against the Southern Cross with the Milky Way in the background, with only its capsule shooting toward Earth, leaving a fiery trail behind.

The peanut-shaped Itokawa is only 500 meters long. Imagine a pea in a Paris cafe. Landing on Itokawa is a spectacular feat that can be likened to shooting a toothpick from Tokyo and directly hitting the pea.

The Hayabusa overcame numerous difficulties to complete its seven-year, 6 billion-kilometer journey. It greatly cheered up the Japanese people.

The success of the mission drastically altered the atmosphere surrounding Japan's space development.

Even Renho, the state minister in charge of government revitalization who appeared eager to slash budgets for science projects when she was a member of the government panel to screen wasteful spending, lauded the mission: "It is a feat that all Japanese should be proud of. This is a major message to the world," she said. To scientists, the Hayabusa must be like the ultimate filial child.

Suppose the capsule did actually capture particles from the Itokawa, no matter how little. It would be a treasure trove to help trace back the origin of the solar system. Minute particles would add to great pride. On second thought, maybe that's asking too much. After all, in any journey, the best gift one can give to people back home is to return safely.

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 22

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.