[H-IIA] Launch of Japanese Rocket with Hayabusa 2 Sample Return Mission

A Japanese H-II rocket successfully launched today, December 3rd 2014 at 04:22 UTC from the Tanegashima Space Centre in Japan carrying the Hayabusa 2 sample return mission to an Asteroid.

The craft is due to arrive at the asteroid in 2018 where it will fire projectiles into the asteroid, capture the ejected matter and return it to Earth via a capsule.