Photo Gallery: Hayabusa Asteroid Probe Returns to Earth

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You Burn Me Up

JAXA

Hayabusa spacecraft burns up as it crosses the sky.

I'm Going Home

JAXA

See photos of Japan's Hayabusa capsule returning to Earth after reaching asteroid Itokawa. This Earth image was taken by Hayabusa as it neared the planet.

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
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Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.