Scientists in Japan have been using two synchrotrons, the SPring-8 and the Photon Factory, to analyze the dust particles collected by the HAYABUSA Asteroid probe, which returned from Asteroid Itokawa on June 13, 2010. HAYABUSA, which means "Falcon" in Japanese, was launched from the Uchinoura Space Center in Japan on May 9, 2003, and arrived at Itokawa in September 2005. The HAYABUSA particles were initially analyzed using electron microscopes, and then forwarded to the above synchrotron facilities in January 2011. Many interesting 3D images were collected at BL20XU, SPring-8, and the structure and chemical compositions were also analyzed at BL-3A, Photon Factory, KEK. For more information on the HAYABUSA project, visit the web page of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/enterp/missions/hayabusa/index.shtml
