Japan's Asteroid Probe Packs Up and Prepares for Return to Earth gizmodo.com

Image: JAXAFollowing a pair of successful touchdowns onto the surface of Ryugu, Japan’s Hayabusa2 probe is packing its precious cargo as it prepares to bring samples of the asteroid back to Earth.
With the two touchdowns now in the history books, JAXA mission planners are now shifting to the return phase.
AdvertisementHayabusa2 still has some work to do around Ryugu, but JAXA is already preparing the probe for its 300-million-kilometer (186-million-mile) journey home.
JAXA is currently seeking permission from the Australian government to use its territory for the landing of the re-entry capsule.
Speaking of MINERVA-II1, JAXA received a signal from one of the landers on August 2, 2019.