Probe 'gathers asteroid material'

リンク: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Probe 'gathers asteroid material'.

A Japanese probe has become the first craft to collect samples from the surface of an asteroid, scientists say.

The probe, called Hayabusa - Japanese for "falcon" - briefly touched down on the Itokawa asteroid and fired a projectile to loosen surface material.

Scientists believe it collected the debris, but will only be sure when Hayabusa returns to Earth in 2007.

BBCじゃトップニュースなのに、日本じゃ地味な扱いだこと。