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The Itokawa asteroid up close
Photos and data from the Japanese Hayabusa probe. (Click on the small slides to get a larger version).

The Itokawa asteroid up close, with data on its gravity, surface topography and probable history. Lots of pictures which show this really is a "floating pile of rubble" with apparently 40% porosity (sand at the beach has 20%) but large chunks and sand and gravel all mixed in! This is expected to be typical of most asteroids that are targeted for mining. We can use Itokawa as the real check-reality for designing equipment.