News > Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft returns to Earth with asteroid sample after 6 long years

Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft returns to Earth with asteroid sample after 6 long years

The Hayabusa2 space probe retired to Earth after a long 6-year journey. The space probe was tasked with retrieving samples of an asteroid called Ryugu and finally made completed its arduous journey back home.

The mission was led by the Japan Aerospace Exploration agency (JAXA) with the purpose of finding out more about the origins of the solar system and even the origin of water. The Hayabusa2 was launched from the Tanegashima Space Centre in 2014.