Japanese Bring Back Comet Dust

Features: Current EventsCritical Path Innovation: Space ExplorationInstitutions: JAXASites in Space: Itokawa CometSpacecraft: Hayabusa

The Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) was the first to launch a spacecraft, collect comet dust, and return safely to earth. The spacecraft was called Hayabusa, the comet Itokawa. The craft was in space for seven years before landing in Australia in June of 2010. Price Tag: $200 million dollars.