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Science 2 June 2006:
Vol. 312. no. 5778, pp. 1328 - 1329
DOI: 10.1126/science.1128496
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Perspective

Adventures in Near-Earth Object Exploration

Erik Asphaug

Asteroids, because of the hazard they pose to Earth, are compelling targets for robotic and human space exploration. Yet because of their exotic low-gravity environment, simply landing on an asteroid appears to be much more challenging than we had appreciated 5 or 10 years ago. Thanks to a bold new mission from Japan that has made the first asteroid sample return attempt, this goal is now within our reach.

Earth Sciences Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.

E-mail: asphaug{at}pmc.ucsc.edu

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)