A detective story from Stanford University News. http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/august/sun-082310.html
When researchers found an unusual linkage between solar flares and the inner life of radioactive elements on Earth, it touched off a scientific detective investigation that could end up protecting the lives of space-walking astronauts and maybe rewriting some of the assumptions of physics.
BY DAN STOBER
http://www.pcaire.com/images/solar_flares.png
Hayabusa’s main engine failed due to fuel leaks, but the probe was able to complete its odyssey by relying on ion engines developed by NEC. The Japanese firm’s unique method of using microwaves can extend the lifespan of an ion engine to more than twice that of conventional engines. Hayabusa’s successful return “has boosted the credibility of ion engines,” an NEC official said.
Japan is planning for the launch of the “Hayabusa-2” asteroid probe sometime between July 2014 and 2015.
The k2p blog 
