Hayabusa 2, six years ago, the Japanese space probe launched into space – now a spectacular project on board could come to a close.
The space probe sent a capsule containing 4.6 billion years old material on its way to Earth. The landing in Australia is now eagerly awaited.
Hayabusa 2, the Japanese space probe detached a capsule on Saturday with samples from the asteroid Ryugu in space and sent it on its way to Earth.
As the Japanese space agency Jaxa announced, the capsule with the 4.6 billion years old material from the prehistoric times of the solar system detached successfully from the probe at a distance of 220,000 kilometres. A parachute will be deployed around 6:30 p.m. (CET) around ten kilometres above Australia. The capsule should float on it shortly to trace the origins of the solar system afterwards in the south of Australia in a desert area.
Meanwhile, the “Hayabusa2” probe is setting off itself on the next asteroid mission. The eagerly awaited landing of the capsule, and researchers hope by analyzing the Ryugu samples to trace the origins of the solar system.
Japanese probe separates capsule with asteroid samples.
The Japanese space probe “Hayabusa 2” from the asteroid Ryugu in space detached a capsule with samples and sent it on its way to Earth. As it will enter the earth’s atmosphere in the evening (CET) and slowed down when it is scorching hot. A parachute would get on around 6:30 p.m. (CET) around ten kilometres around Australia. The capsule floated on it shortly afterwards in a desert area in the south of Australia. Meanwhile, the “Hayabusa2” probe itself is setting off on its next asteroid mission.
The eagerly awaited landing of the capsule marks the end of the mission with the launch of the “Hayabusa 2” from Japan began in December 2014. DLR, the German Aerospace Center also took part in the spectacular project with the “Mascot” lander developed in cooperation with CNES, the French space agency. The researchers are hoping to trace the origins of the solar system by analyzing the Ryugu samples.