ACD10-0109-010
Mission: Hayabusa Re-entry Imaging
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Hayabusa spacecraft left a streak of light behind the clouds is as it re-entered Earth’s atmosphere over the Woomera Test Range in Australia. This image was taken from the nearby town of Kingoonya, South Australia and was captured by leaving the camera lens open for 80 seconds. The spacecraft’s re-entry was visible to the human eye in Kingoonya for only 15 seconds. From the perspective of NASA’s DC-8 airborne observation team, the capsule moved below and slightly ahead of the bus and stayed clear of the spectacular breakup of the bus. After the bus had disintegrated, the capsule continued to create a wake, before reaching peak heating and then fading gradually.June 13, 2010
NASA Ames / Ed Schilling