The space probe Hayabusa closes in on the asteroid Itokawa in this artist conception.

The probe, named Hayabusa, which was launched in May 2003, was in a stationary orbit 20 km from the asteroid Itokawa, the closest a Japanese probe has ever come to any space object, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said. The asteroid is about 320 million km from Earth.

The space agency expects the mission to answer questions about the birth of the solar system.

The probe will remain at a distance of 20 km for about one month to collect data on the asteroid using X-ray and infrared technology, and will then approach to within 10 km for further study.

In early November, the probe will momentarily touch down on the potato-shaped asteroid -- 548 meters long, 312 meters wide and 276 meters high -- to take rock samples.

Upon completion of its mission, the probe will head back to Earth, returning in June 2007, the agency said.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 17, 2005
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