If it is confirmed the flight - at over 11,000 miles an hour - was within 800 metres of the asteroid, it would be one of the closest ever.

Mission also aimed at testing technologies needed for planetary defense

Tokyo, July 5 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Hayabusa2 unmanned probe successfully flew past the asteroid Torifune at close range on Sunday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.…

Zipped just 800m past Asteroid Torifune as part of very extended mission