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Published 13:30 IST, November 13th 2019

Japan spacecraft starts yearlong journey home from asteroid

Japan spacecraft starts the yearlong journey home from the asteroid to bring back soil samples and data that could provide clues to the origins of solar system

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Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft has departed from a distant asteroid, starting its yearlong journey home after successfully completing its mission to bring back soil samples and data that could provide clues to the origins of the solar system. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency says the spacecraft left its orbit around the asteroid Ryugu, about 300 million kilometers (180 million miles) from Earth.

Read: Japan's Hayabusa2 Spacecraft Blasts Asteroid Ryugu In Search Of Answers To The 'Big Bang Theory'

Read: Japan Spacecraft Releases Rover To Asteroid In Its Last Mission

Hayabusa2 to bring samples from celestial bodies

Hayabusa2 made two touchdowns on the asteroid and successfully collected data and samples during its 1-year mission since arriving there in June 2018. The spacecraft is expected to return to Earth in late 2020 and drop a capsule containing the precious samples in the Australian desert. JAXA scientists hope the samples contain carbon and organic matter that could explain how they are related to Earth

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Updated 15:21 IST, November 13th 2019

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