Japan has successfully launched the second sample return mission to an asteroid, with a JAXA H-IIA rocket carrying the Hayabusa 2 probe into orbit on the first leg of its journey to the asteroid (162173) 1999 JU3. Launch occurred on schedule at 04:22 UTC on Wednesday from Pad 1 of the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at JAXA’s Tanegashima Space Centre.
