Japan awaits return of spacecraft with asteroid soil samples

The Hayabusa2 spacecraft above the asteroid Ryugu (ISAS/JAXA via AP, File)

Japan’s space agency says the Hayabusa2 spacecraft has separated a capsule and sent it towards Earth to deliver samples from a distant asteroid that could provide clues to the origin of the solar system and life on our planet.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said the capsule successfully detached on Saturday from 136,700 miles away in a challenging operation that required precision control.