Japan's Hayabusa2 space probe flies by asteroid Torifune at close range

TOKYO - Japan's Hayabusa2 space probe made what is believed to be a close flyby of the asteroid Torifune on Sunday, the country's space agency said.

The flyby observation mission, which requires highly accurate navigation, was also aimed at testing technologies needed for planetary defense, or efforts to mitigate the risk of asteroids colliding with Earth, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.