The new space mission, Hayabusa2, is scheduled for launch in 2014 and is aimed at the asteroid 1999 JU3, a large space rock about 3,018 feet in length.
The mission is due to arrive at the asteroid in mid-2018, loiter at the space rock and carry out a slew of challenging firsts before departing the scene at the end of 2019, 'Space.Com' reported.
The Hayabusa2 spacecraft is scheduled to return to Earth with samples of asteroid 1999 JU3. The probe's name is Japanese for "Falcon2".
Officials with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said Hayabusa2, like its Hayabusa predecessor, will also involve a significant level of international cooperation.
The initial Hayabusa mission launched in May 2003 and returned samples of Itokawa
