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Japan spacecraft approaches Earth to drop asteroid samples

Japanese space agency officials said Friday the Hayabusa2 spacecraft is on its intended trajectory as it approaches Earth to deliver a capsule containing samples from a distant asteroid that could provide clues to the origin of the solar system and life on Earth.

The spacecraft left the asteroid Ryugu, about 300 million kilometres (180 million miles) away, a year ago. The capsule is to be released 220,000 kilometres (136,700 miles) away in space.