December 6, 2022
On this date in 2020, the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa2 returned samples from the asteroid Ryugu. Following landing and sample collection at the asteroid, Hayabusa2 flew back by Earth, where a capsule containing the sample fell and then parachuted to the Earth’s surface. The spacecraft is now on an extended mission to the asteroid 1998 KY26, which it is scheduled to reach in July 2031.
This photo shows the surface of the asteroid Ryugu. With close-up images like this, scientists have been able to learn much about the surface features and composition of this asteroid and those like it. Image credit: MASCOT/DLR/JAXA