E.T. phone home, from Japan

Extraterrestrial asteroid particles have been discovered in the sample catcher on board the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa.

Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said the Hayabusa space mission saw scientists, for the first time, land a spacecraft on an asteroid and collect particles for analysis.

“The discovery that the particles are extraterrestrial and not just gas or pre-launch debris is a big deal. Researching these asteroid particles will help us better understand our solar system,” Senator Carr said.

“I am proud of the role that Australia has played and will continue to play in this space research - assisting the re-entry and location of Hayabusa, and the analysis of the particles.”

Hayabusa landed in Australia in June this year, following a seven-year space mission. An initial analysis of its container found 1500 grains of rocky particles from the asteroid Itokawa. Most measured less than 10 micrometres across.