Japanese Spacecraft Touches Down on Asteroid to Get Samples

Associate Prof. Yuichi Tsuda of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) speaks about the touchdown by the Hayabusa2 near a model of the Japanese spacecraft, rear, during a press conference in Sagamihara, near Tokyo, on Feb. 22, 2019. Kyodo News via AP

TOKYO—A Japanese spacecraft touched down on a distant asteroid on Feb. 22, on a mission to collect material that could provide clues to the origin of the solar system and life on Earth.

Workers at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) control center applauded Friday as a signal sent from space indicated the Hayabusa2 spacecraft had touched down.