SPACE.com: The return capsule of Japan’s Hayabusa spacecraft landed successfully on Sunday at 10:00am EDT in the Woomera Prohibited Area of South Australia. Launched in 2003, Hayabusa reached asteroid Itokawa in 2005 and, it is hoped, retrieved a sample. Yesterday’s return went according to plan.
Three hours before its arrival back on Earth, the return capsule separated from the rest of the spacecraft, which broke up in Earth’s atmosphere. The return capsule floated to Earth via parachute and was recovered and sent to Japan where it will be opened and its contents examined.
