Spacecraft Carrying Invaluable Cargo Is Coming Home After 5-Billion Km Space Journey

Scientists are preparing for the return of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft in the desert city of Woomera, situated in the desert of South Australia. The spacecraft is supposed to land back on 6 December 2020, after a stay of 6 years in space.

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Tau.Neutrino said:

Spacecraft Carrying Invaluable Cargo Is Coming Home After 5-Billion Km Space Journey

Scientists are preparing for the return of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft in the desert city of Woomera, situated in the desert of South Australia. The spacecraft is supposed to land back on 6 December 2020, after a stay of 6 years in space.

more…

The title is misleading.

IIRC the spacecraft is not landing, but getting a gravity-assist energy boost, so it can visit more asteroids.

Its payload (100 micrograms of asteroid material) will be returning. The payload will be deliberately jettisoned. That package is planned to land in the Womera region.

payload supposed to land back on 6 December 2020.

:-)