Japan's Hayabusa2 leaves asteroid to return to Earth at end of 2020 english.kyodonews.net

posted by  AkihabaraBot | 4 years, 5 months ago in Science & Technology

KYODO NEWS - 2 hours ago - 10:41 | All, JapanJapan's space agency said Wednesday its Hayabusa2 space probe has departed from an asteroid which it landed on to collect samples and will make its return to Earth in November or December next year.
The probe's return, previously scheduled to start by the end of this year, was brought forward after it successfully accomplished its planned tasks, departing from the Ryugu asteroid at 10:05 a.m., the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.
(Image of Hayabusa2 space probe and the Ryugu asteroid)[Courtesy of JAXA]Its early departure will provide enough time for the agency to prepare for the release of a capsule carrying samples to Earth, JAXA said.
"We're grateful to the Ryugu asteroid and are honestly sad about leaving it."
Launched in December 2014 from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan, Hayabusa2 reached Ryugu in June last year.