[FPSPACE] Fw: [JAXA:0218] Restoration of Asteroid Explorer, HAYABUSA's ReturnCruise

[LARRY KLAES]

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-----Original Message-----
From: JAXA Press Release Mail Service <jaxapr at jaxa.jp>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:03:03 
To: <ljk4 at msn.com>
Subject: [JAXA:0218] Restoration of Asteroid Explorer, HAYABUSA's Return
 Cruise

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                        ***  JAXA MAIL SERVICE  ***
                    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
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       Restoration of Asteroid Explorer, HAYABUSA's Return Cruise
 
                                                November 19, 2009 (JST)
                              Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
 
 The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has been studying 
 measures to deal with the anomaly detected in one of the ion engines 
 aboard the Asteroid Explorer "HAYABUSA" as reported on November 9, 
 2009. As a result, the project team has come up with a recovery 
 operation plan, and the project decided to resume the operations, 
 while carefully watching the status of the ion engines.
 
 JAXA has been studying the characteristics of the neutralizers and the 
 ion sources. During the study, enough thrust is found available for 
 the rest of the cruise, when the neutralizer of the engine-A is 
 combined with the ion source of the engine-B.
 
 While the operation still needs monitored carefully, the project team 
 has concluded the spacecraft can maintain the current return cruise 
 schedule back to the earth around June of 2010, if the new engines 
 configuration continues to work as planned.
 
 The project team will attentively monitor the return cruise, and JAXA 
 will inform you of any update whenever available.
 
 The new configuration of the HAYABUSA ion engines-A & B
 http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/11/20091119_hayabusa_e.html#pict <http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/11/20091119_hayabusa_e.html#pict> 
 
 
 This page URL:
 http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/11/20091119_hayabusa_e.html <http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/11/20091119_hayabusa_e.html> 
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