Flying over 3.2 billion miles on a 6-year mission, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency @JAXA_en returned to Earth on-time and on-target. In a historic first, the Hayabusa2 capsule was dropped. It housed the precious 16-inch (40-centimeter) diameter sub-surface samples from asteroid Ryugu.
Landing took place around 4 a.m. local time in Australia.
Successful landing
For 2 weeks, the JAXA recovery team of scientists supported by Australian Airforce helicopter crews have been gathering in the Woomera Prohibited Area in South Australia. They have been working tirelessly in the secure facility operated by the Australian Defense Department.
The Hayabusa2 sped across the Australian sky like a fireball. The heat shield was jettisoned and the parachute deployed. Explosives were used to deploy the parachute. Then re-entry was confirmed.
On Sunday morning a helicopter followed the radio beacon signal sent out by the capsule from the capsule. The team traveled by helicopter to the landing site just after sunrise.
