Japanese asteroid probe sets off to seek origins of life

A Japanese rocket carrying an asteroid-bound space probe blasted off Wednesday from a launch site in southern Japan.

The launch marks the start of a planned six-year mission for the probe -- called the Hayabusa-2 -- to the asteroid known as 1999 JU3 and back.

Hayabusa is the Japanese word for peregrine falcon.

The probe is expected to arrive at the asteroid in mid-2018.

It's supposed to map the surface of the asteroid before touching down to collect samples.

Scientists believe the asteroid contains organic matter that may have contributed to life on Earth.

The Hayabusa-2 is due to return with the samples in 2020 -- the same year Tokyo hosts the Summer Olympic Games.