JAPAN – A Japanese spacecraft landed on an asteroid, where it will collect space rock that may hold clues to how the universe evolved.
The successful touchdown on the Ryugu asteroid was met with relief and cheering in the control room of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
It was the second landing for the unmanned Hayabusa-2, which touched down on February.
After blasting a crater in Ryugu, it has returned to pick up fresh rubble.
As the samples will come from within the asteroid, it will not be exposed to the harsh environment of space.
It was hoped the rock will give scientists more data on the origins of the Solar System.
Hayabusa-2 is due to bring the specimens back to Earth next year.(BBC)
