After returning from an asteroid, what happens to the space capsule that landed in SA’s outback?

After a six-year mission involving distances of more than 5.2 billion kilometres, a Japanese space capsule fell to Earth in a blaze of light over the South Australian outback on Sunday.

The mission’s aim was to deliver samples from a distant asteroid to provide clues about the origin of the solar system and life on our planet.

The capsule is thought to be carrying the first sub-surface sample ever to be recovered from an asteroid in space.

The successful return of the Hayabusa2 capsule has been a cause for celebration among scientists.

But those eagerly wanting to know what’s contained inside will have to wait a little longer…