#collect samples

TOKYO | Photos from Japan space rovers show rocky asteroid surface

TOKYO— Japan’s space agency says more than 200 photos taken by two small rovers on an asteroid show no signs of a smooth area for the planned touchdown of a spacecraft early next year.

The Japan Aerospace ExplorationAgency said Thursday the two solar-powered rovers have become inactive and are probably in the shade, but are still responding to signals after three months, exceeding their projected…

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla | NASA spacecraft arrives at ancient asteroid, its 1st visitor

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — After a two-year chase, a NASA spacecraft has arrived at the ancient asteroid Bennu, its first visitor in billions of years.

The robotic explorer Osiris-Rex pulled within 12 miles (19 kilometers) of the diamond-shaped space rock Monday. It will get even closer in the days ahead and go into orbit around Bennu (BEN-oo) on Dec. 31. No spacecraft has ever orbited such a small…

TOKYO | Japan delays spacecraft landing on very rocky asteroid

TOKYO— Japan’s space agency is delaying a spacecraft touchdown on an asteroid because scientists need more time to find a safe landing site on the extremely rocky surface.

The spacecraft Hayabusa2 left Earth in 2014 and traveled 280 million kilometers (170 million miles) to the area of asteroid Ryugu, which it reached in June.

The Japan AerospaceExploration Agency plans to attempt three brief…