Japan launches new robot toward asteroid

TOKYO - 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, said the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

"We can confirm that the MASCOT separated from the spacecraft as planned," the agency, also known as JAXA, said in a tweet.