Japanese scientists say space probe Hayabusa2 has released a capsule toward Earth, which is believed to contain samples from the asteroid Ryugu.

The project team of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, says the release took place at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Japan time.

Japan's asteroid probe Hayabusa2 will return a capsule containing samples from the asteroid Ryugu to Earth in early December.

Japan's education ministry announced that Hayabusa2 is scheduled to drop the capsule onto an Australian desert on December 6.

Ayaka released a digital single titled "Michishirube" on March 4. 

Ayaka wrote "Michishirube" as the CM song for fashion brand earth music&ecology, while she was pregnant with her second child. On the song, she commented, "Depending on the place you are born, the scene that awaits in your future is completely different. I hope there is light in the place you return to... I hope this will be a light for our child... 'Michishirube' is a song that is filled with those feelings." 

Japan's space agency says its asteroid probe is continuing its return to Earth as planned after the first injection of its main engines.

Hayabusa2 last December began its return after completing a mission on the asteroid Ryugu.