Near Infrared Spectra of Candidates for Sampling Sites

In view of the scientific results described above, JAXA has determined the landing/sampling sites candidates and the descent target point for rehearsal, along with their planned dates and times.
The landing/sampling sites must be free of obstacles and smooth enough to ensure safety, a top priority, while at the same time the surface inclination and the ground station coverage for Hayabusa must be taken into account. Taking these issues into consideration, the candidate
sites and schedule were determined.
The first site candidate is the regolith expanse in the middle of Itokawa, known as the MUSES-SEA Area and the second candidate site is the Woomera desert at the tip end of Itokawa, where the terrain is broad and flat. The rehearsal target is the area located close to the spin axis, a little east of the first site. The date and time of the planned events
(JST) are as follows:

1. Rehearsal Descent: Nov. 4, '05 - h.14:00
2. 1st Touch-down: Nov. 12, '05 - h. 15:00
3. 2nd Touch-down: Nov. 25., '05 - h. 15:00