Orbiting around Itokawa (4)

The deep-space exploration technologies that the Top World's Space Agencies are pursuing consist of 3 major elements:

1) high efficiency electric propulsion for cruise;
2) rendez-vous with target destinations and
3) round-trip flights back to the Earth.

As of this time Hayabusa has accomplished the first and second of these elements, leading the way for the Space Exploration Agencies of the World.
Furthermore, robotic sample collection and return from an extra terrestrial object has not been executed before, and is not currently planned, except for Hayabusa, which will attempt to gather a bulk sample from Itokawa.
Hayabusa’s success clearly shows that Japan’s deep space exploration technology has reached the level of the World’s most developed Space Agencies, and that Japan is now in a Leadership Position in some select engineering fields.

Thus Hayabusa opens a New Era in the exploration of the Solar System.