Japan awaits spacecraft return with asteroid soil samples

Japan awaits spacecraft return with asteroid soil samples

4 years ago
Anonymous $y15ULlV7sG

https://apnews.com/ec7cab3c3297f193b5874125c9bd7355

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's space agency said its final checks confirmed the Hayabusa2 spacecraft is on track to return to Earth a capsule containing samples from a distant asteroid that could provide clues to the origin of the solar system and life on our planet.

The spacecraft is making its final approach on its planned trajectory and is scheduled to separate the capsule Saturday afternoon from 220,000 kilometers (136,700 miles) away in a challenge requiring precision control. The capsule is programed to land in a remote, sparsely populated area of Woomera, Australia, on Sunday.