EDITORIAL: Itokawa asteroid dust

Scientists have confirmed that particles the Hayabusa probe brought back from its space trip are from the asteroid Itokawa.

It is the first time that humankind has collected material from the surface of a celestial body that is further away than the moon. This discovery will stand as one of the greatest achievements in the history of human space exploration.

The distance to Itokawa was some 300 million kilometers, twice the distance between the Earth and the sun. We wonder what the particles that have come such a long way through space to our planet will tell us.

The Hayabusa particles will be available to researchers around the world for in-depth analysis. We hope that these studies will lead to important new knowledge about the origins of our solar system, which is about 4.6 billion years old.

The particles found in the Hayabusa sample canister are something like tiny sand grains. In addition to 1,500 superfine particles less than 0.01 millimeter in size, some bigger ones were found as well.

Hayabusa's capture mechanism, designed to shoot pellets at Itokawa's surface to dislodge material, failed to work. But it seems that in the craft's landing upon the asteroid, these grains were kicked up and collected into the probe's sample capsule.

Researchers had to carefully collect and analyze the materials because they are invisible to the naked eye.

Analysis has confirmed that the minerals contained in the particles are different from the elements found on Earth in terms of their composition and are similar to those from a meteorite. The findings also fell within predictions about the composition of the particles based on observations of Itokawa.

Despite the very small sample, state-of-the-art instruments will enable most of the planned analysis, according to researchers.

The Hayabusa mission experienced many troubles during its 6-billion-kilometer journey, such as disruptions of communications and the breakdowns of some engines.

The probe, however, made a miraculous return to Earth in June, dramatically signaled by the sparkling break-up of the main spacecraft on re-entry to the atmosphere. The spectacle seen in the southern sky is still a fresh memory.

Speaking about the results of the project, Junichiro Kawaguchi, the Hayabusa project manager at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), said Tuesday, "Hayabusa's return itself was like a dream, and how could I describe what went beyond a dream?"

Kawaguchi was excited about the fact that the small probe had pulled off another unexpected feat. It is no doubt a brilliant achievement.

The Hayabusa project began a quarter century ago with a bold idea of young researchers. The probe was actually launched 15 years after the project was initiated.

Kawaguchi stressed that the achievement would have been impossible without the agency's experience and expertise "accumulated through over 40 years of its operation as a space science research institute."

In addition, ambitious goals, great technological prowess and devoted efforts by researchers played key roles in the peerless accomplishment.

The ambitious project must have offered great opportunities for young Japanese scientists to learn a lot about cutting-edge scientific research.

With other Asian nations pouring resources into scientific research, however, some observers are warning that the outlook of Japanese science is dimming.

Why do we continue the kind of scientific research that doesn't lead to immediate benefits?

There is no doubt that an insatiable and passionate quest for new knowledge has been driving the progress of humankind.

While it is necessary to adjust budget allocations to scientific projects to the demands of the times, the government should do more to improve the environment for scientific research in this country. This will better foster young researchers to devote themselves to such a quest for knowledge and give full scope to originality in their efforts.

-- The Asahi Shimbun, Nov. 18