Japan awaits spacecraft with asteroid soil samples
5: Japan’s space agency said the
Hayabusa2 spacecraft successfully separated a capsule and sent it toward 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 said the capsule successfully detached Saturday afternoon from 2,20,000 kilometres (1,36,700 miles) away in a challenging operation that required precision control.
The capsule is now descending to land in a remote, sparsely populated
Tokyo, Dec.
area of Woomera, Australia, on Sunday. Hayabusa2 left the asteroid Ryugu, about 300 million kilometers ( 180 million miles) away, a year ago.
After the capsule release, it is now moving away from Earth to capture images of the capsule descending to the planet. Yuichi Tsuda, project manager at the space agency JAXA, stood up and raised his fists as everyone applauded the moment command center officials confirmed the successful separation of the capsule.
Hayabusa2’s return with the world’s first asteroid subsurface samples comes
weeks after NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft made a successful touch- and- go
grab of surface samples from asteroid Bennu.
China, meanwhile, anno
unced this week its lunar lander collected underground samples and sealed them within the spacecraft for return to Earth, as space developing nations compete in their missions.
Many Hayabusa2 fans gathered to observe the moment of the capsule separation at public viewing events across the country, including one at the Tokyo Dome stadium. In the early hours of Sunday, the capsule, protected by a heat shield, will briefly turn into a fireball as it reenters the atmosphere 120 kilometers (75 miles) above Earth.
At about 10 kilometres (6 miles) above ground, a parachute will open to slow its fall and beacon signals will be transmitted to indicate its location. JAXA staff have set up satellite dishes at several locations in the target area to receive the signals, while also preparing a marine radar, drones and helicopters to assist in the search and retrieval of the pan-shaped capsule.