Hayabusa is a Japanese space mission launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to explore and collect samples from the asteroid Itokawa. The mission successfully returned to Earth in 2010, providing valuable insights into the early solar system and the building blocks of life. The Hayabusa spacecraft was notable for its innovative technology, including a sample collection mechanism that used a projectile to gather material from the asteroid's surface. This mission marked a significant achievement in space exploration, demonstrating Japan's capabilities in interplanetary missions and paving the way for future endeavors in asteroid research.