Japan space probe Hayabusa2 launches new robot onto Ryugu asteroid

A Japanese probe launched a new observation robot toward an asteroid on Wednesday as it pursues a mission to shed light on the origins of the solar system. The Hayabusa2 probe launched the French-German Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout, or MASCOT, toward the Ryugu asteroid's surface, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said. "We can confirm that the MASCOT separated from the spacecraft as planned," the agency said in a tweet on its official account. I'm descending to Ryugu! Can't stop me now!" the lander's official Twitter account @MASCOT2018 added. JAXA tweeted shortly after the landing began that it was in communication with MASCOT.