Japanese scientists identify 'minute particles' aboard Hayabusa space probe

London, July 5 (ANI): Japan's space agency claims to have identified "minute particles" of what may be asteroid dust collected by the probe Hayabusa.

"We started the process of opening the sample container of Hayabusa on June 24, 2010, and have confirmed there are minute particles," The Telegraph quoted the agency, as saying in a statement.

The scientists, however, added it is still unclear whether the particles are contaminants that may have originated on Earth or come from asteriod Itokawa which the space probe landed on during its multi-billion mile journey.

A final result on the particles may take several months, but if the material is indeed from Itokawa then it should provide more clues about the origins of the solar system.

Hayabusa, meaning "falcon" in Japanese, returned to Earth last month after a 3-billion-mile journey that took more than seven years. (ANI)