Japan’s Hayabusa2 space capsule to fall back to Earth after six-year asteroid mission

A space capsule carrying dust and rocks from an asteroid is due to land in the South Australian desert early on Sunday morning.

The Japanese Hayabusa2 capsule, which is returning from its mission to the asteroid Ryugu, is due to touch down on the Woomera Prohibited Area about 500 kilometres north-west of Adelaide at about 4:00am (local time).

It will put on a spectacular show in the early morning twilight as it streaks towards Earth.

Then the hunt will be on to find its landing spot.