Japan asteroid rovers send back amazing images of rock's surface

Japanese space agency scientists and engineers are thrilled by the images being sent to earth by two robotic rovers of an asteroid 280 million kilometres away.

It took more than three years for the Hayabusa2 spacecraft to reach the vicinity of asteroid Ryugu. (AAP)

New photos taken on the surface of an asteroid show that it is rocky.

It may be no surprise, but Japanese space agency scientists and engineers are nonetheless thrilled by the images being sent to earth by two jumping robotic rovers that they dropped onto an asteroid about 280 million kilometres away.

This Sept. 23, 2018 image captured by Rover-1B, and provided by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) shows the surface of asteroid Ryugu. Source: AAP

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency posted the latest photos on its website at global.jaxa.jp

They show slightly tilted close-ups of the rocky surface from different locations.

It took more than three years for the unmanned Hayabusa2 spacecraft to reach the vicinity of asteroid Ryugu.

One week ago, the craft successfully dropped a small capsule with two rovers onto its surface.

The rovers don't have wheels but jump around the asteroid.

This Sept. 21, 2018 image taken at an altitude of about 64 meter from Hayabusa2 and provided Sept. 27 by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Source: AAP