NEWS ON JAPAN
 
Japan's space agency says its asteroid explorer Hayabusa2 is flying well after the launch in early December.

Officials at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency explained the current status of the probe's flight and its equipment during a news conference on Wednesday.

The officials said they have confirmed that all 4 ion propulsion engines are functioning normally.
 
The probe has reportedly carried out self-directed operations for 24 consecutive hours without directions from the ground station.
 
The officials said communications devices on the probe are working without a hitch.
 
Hayabusa2 is expected to change course using the Earth's gravity in December 2015. The new trajectory should take it to an asteroid around June 2018.