Space capsule due home after visit to asteroid

SCIENTISTS will be eagerly scanning the night sky over the Australian outback this weekend for the long-delayed return of the first spacecraft to complete a round-trip journey to an asteroid.

Launched by Japan in 2003, the Hayabusa capsule has travelled 4 billion kilometres in seven years and is expected to land in the desert of South Australia state this Sunday night.

Hayabusa is expected to be carrying space material collected during its two brief landings on the asteroid, which will offer insights into the creation and makeup of the solar system.