     

Summary and contents of the press conference
Overview•••

Since the return of the sample in December of last year, curation activities have been
conducted for the initial analysis of the sample.
Curation activities are aimed at cataloguing the sample without compromising thescientific value in order to provide information that contributes to further detailed
scientific analysis.
Today’s report is that part of the catalogued sample is ready for delivery.

Contents1.
2.

2021/6/17

Report from the curation team (T. Usui, E. Nakamura, M. Ito)
Report from the initial analysis teamS. TachibanaH. YurimotoT. NakamuraT. NoguchiR. OkazakiH. YabutaH. Naraoka

Hayabusa2 reporter briefing2

Report from the curation teamTomohiro USUIJAXA
Eizo NAKAMURAOkayama University
Motoo ITOJAMSTECRyugu sample curation work
The initial description of the Ryugu sample was performed without removing the sample fromthe clean chamber, in order to avoid contamination from the global environment
CC3-1
Opening the sample container undervacuum environment
CC3-2
Sample collection under vacuum
CC3-3
Transition from vacuum to nitrogenenvironment
CC4-1
Handling of submillimeter-sizedparticles
CC4-2
Handling / observation / sorting ofrelatively large particles (> mm)
2021/6/17

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Achievement of the world’s first sample collection and storage of asteroid
samples under vacuum conditions
Samples collected under vacuum on December 15, 2020 will not be distributed at this time,
but continued to be stored under vacuum (CC3-2) for future analysis.

                  
2021/6/17

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Initial description by curation teamAcquisition of information needed for sorting the samples for initial analysis and higher
curation
Optical microscope image (colour, shape, size), spectroscopic data (mineral species), weight
Equipment set for the initial description in CC3-3 & CC4-2

Optical microscope2021/6/17

Weighing scale
Hayabusa2 reporter briefing

Infrared spectrometer Infrared spectrometer
microscope 6

Sorting of the aggregate and individual samples• Large particles (203) are selected from chambers A and C and described individually• Aggregate samples (sorted into 7 containers) are described for each container

Optical microscope image of the chamber Asample (before individual particle selection)
2021/6/17

Sample sorting (image from outside the chamber)
Hayabusa2 reporter briefing

Photo of individualparticles 7

Sample quantity / distribution ratio / distribution schedule
Approved by the Hayabusa-2 Sample Allocation CommitteeJAXA detailed description 2%�����������

Phase2: overseas 2%

International AO
15%

Future storage
60%

Initialanalysis 6%

Preparation of international opportunities,
preparation of sample catalogue��������

Curation work: initial description of theindividual samples

Outreach 1%

Phase1: Understanding the overall appearance of the sample, initialdescription of the first distributed sample(within 6 months of return�

Total sample�~5.4 g• Chamber A�3.2 g• Chamber B�<0.1 g• Chamber C�2.0 g• Other�~0.2 g
Current sample distribution
Initial analysis�~0.3 g
Phase 2�~0.2 g�������������������������������
2021/6/17

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Sample distribution
5/316/28samples distributed to the initial analysis team and Phase 2 team���) ���������������������� �������) ����� �������������������������) �������� �������� �������������������K���������� ���������� ������������������K������������ ����������� ���� ��������K����������� ��� ���������)��������������� �������������������� ��������K���������������� ��� ���� ������2021/6/17���)������������������������������������
������ ������K�������������������������������������������

Hayabusa2 reporter briefing����) ������� �������� ����������������������������K���������� ���� ������ 9Curation team introduction
Curation-Returned sample characterizations�secure storage�allocation management�
sample distribution to world-wide community�research and development
JAXA is undertaking curatorial activities in cooperation with other institutes.

������������Sample recoveryinitial descriptionoptical image, weight, size, shape etc.) distribution

2021/6/17sample��������������

leadEizo NakamuraOkayama University, Institute forPlanetary Materials
higher-order detailed description data/ provision of curation technology• Establish analysis method based on theComprehensive Analytical System for Terrestrialand Extraterrestrial Materials (CASTEM)• Development and technology licensing of theDepository for References of Earth andAnalytical Materials (DERAM).
• Provision of multi-element / isotope analysis andage data.

leadMotoo Ito
JAMSTEC Kochi Institute forCore Sample Research

R&D for future and current curatorial work,
Detailed characterizations of the samples• R&D of universal sample holders for multi-analytical
instruments under a none air exposure system.
• To acquire the detailed characteristics of the Ryugu
samples without terrestrial contaminations.
• R&D of a linkage analysis (microbeam and bulkchemical) with multi-institute (NIPR, UVSOR,JASRI/SPring-8 etc.)

Hayabusa2 reporter briefing

Initial detailed description,
catalogue creation Technology /R&D including storage . distribution

Initial detailed description,
catalogue creation Technology /R&D including storage . distribution
sample10Future of JAXA’s sample return exploration and curation• Based on the experience gained from Hayabusa/Hayabusa2, JAXA has formed a partnershipwith NASA and other institutes for world leading exploration and curation activities in the 2020s.
• To continue to push the boundaries of sample return exploration, the Martian Moons
eXploration (MMX) mission will be launched in 2024 FY, with the aim of returning the firstsample from the Martian sphere during the 2020s.

World first SR from the Martian sphere

SR of gas and organic matterfrom carbonaceous asteroids

Successfulasteroid SR

Development of curation
technology for large quantities
of carbonaceous asteroidsamples'!&#$&'$"
" 

OSIRIS-REx,NASA)
Sample return 2023

Hayabusa2:
Sample return 2020
Hayabusa+Sample return 2010

2021/6/17

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Martian Moons eXploration (MMX)
Hayabusa2 reporter briefing

11Report from the initial analysis team
Shogo TachibanaTokyo UJAXA
Hisayoshi YurimotoHokkaido UTomoki NakamuraTohoku UTakaaki NoguchiKyoto URyuji OkazakiKyushu U
Hikaru YabutaHiroshima UHiroshi NaraokaKyushu UInitial analysis summary
The Hayabusa2 project initial analysis
team will conduct a one-year analysis,
aiming to achieve results related to thescientific goals for the project, including
the origin and evolution of the Solar
System, the oceans on Earth and the raw
materials for life.

       
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13Initial analysis summary
Supervisor

Shogo Tachibana U. TokyoChemical analysis team

Hisayoshi Yurimoto Hokkaido U.

Stoney material analysis team

Tomoki Nakamura Tohoku U.

Sandy material analysis teamTakaaki Noguchi Kyoto U. / Kyushu U.

Volatile component analysis team Ryuji Okazaki Kyushu U. Organic macromolecule analysis teamSoluble organics analysis team

Hikaru Yabuta Hiroshima U.

Hiroshi Naraoka Kyushu U.

109 universities and research institutes in
14 countries, 269 people.
       
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Initial analysis team introduction
Chemical analysis team

Investigation of the chemical characteristics ofthe sample from Ryugu. For this, the bulk
elemental and isotopic compositions aredetermined. Additionally, variations in theisotopic composition and the formation age ofcomponents within the sample are analyzed.
These results will allow clarification of therelationship between asteroid Ryugu and thetypes of meteorites that fall to Earth, and probe
the formation and origin of Ryugu itself.

Fluorescent X-ray spectrometer forchemical composition analysis©Rigaku,Horiba

Thermal ionization mass spectrometerfor isotope analysis and dating(© Tokyo Institute of Technology)

Isotope microscope for observing element and isotope distribution (© Hokkaido U)

2021/6/17

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Initial analysis team introduction
Stony material analysis teamObtain the light reflection spectra of
the coarse-grains recovered from thesample, and estimate the material
distribution over the surface ofasteroid Ryugu. Perform nondestructive material analysis using thesynchrotron radiation high-energy
beam and obtain the 3D internal
structure and element distribution of
the recovered sample. Observe thesample’s microstructure using a highresolution electron microscope.
Physical properties such as thermalconductivity are also measured.
Integrate all data to model theformation process of asteroid Ryugu.
image credit is from each institution
2021/6/17

Hayabusa2 reporter briefing

16Initial analysis team introduction
Sandy material analysis teamThe surface of celestial bodies without
atmospheres is directly exposed to outer space.
The surface of Ryugu is therefore continuously
exposed to the flow of plasma known as the solar
wind that is constantly streaming from the Sun.
Additionally, very small meteorites collide withthe surface at speeds much faster than from rifles.
The sand material analysis team focuses on how
the surface material on Ryugu changes when
exposed to this harsh environment.
Sample processing will take place at Kyushu
University and Kyoto University, where thesample will be observed with a transmission
electron microscope, and the samples distributed
to researchers in Japan and overseas to proceedwith research.
2021/6/17

Hayabusa2 reporter briefing

Left: The latest plasma FIB
sample processing
observation device.
Observe, analyze andprocess asteroids samples.
Right: A scanningtransmission electron
microscope used toinvestigate the kind ofsubstances Ryugu is madefrom.
Both devices allow samples
to be taken in and out
without coming into
contact with theatmosphere.
Glove box for handling samples
without exposure to the atmosphere.
This is filled with purified nitrogengas before use.
© NoguchiKyoto U. / Kyushu U.

17

Initial analysis team introduction
Volatile component analysis team

Analysis of the elemental and isotopic compositions of thevolatile substances enclosed within the Hayabusa2 sample
catcher and the volatiles within the Ryugu solid sample.
Through analyzing the various volatile substances such ashydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and noble gases, we will obtain
information on the origin and geological age of the parental
materials of Ryugu.

Neutron irradiation / traceelement analysis
©Kyoto U. /Research Reactor Institute)

The Ryugu solid samples will be analyzed without exposure to
the atmosphere at domestic and overseas research institutes, withthe aim of obtaining ‘raw’ information about Ryugu.
Additionally, neutron irradiation at Kyoto University Research
Reactor Institute for Nuclear Science allows trace element
analysis, such as iridium, and Ar-Ar age. Through these
combined analyses, we will obtain a variety of material science
information from these valuable samples at the same time.
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Hayabusa2 reporter briefing

Light element isotope analysis
©U. Tokyo, Atmosphere andOcean Research Institute)

Rare gas isotope analysis
©Kyushu U. 18

Initial analysis team introduction
Organic macromolecule analysis teamIn order to understand the formation process of the thelife’s building blocks in the early Solar System, themolecular and isotopic compositions and thedistributions of the organic macromolecules in theasteroid Ryugu samples will be investigated throughcombining a variety of microspectroscopy techniques(infrared, Raman, synchrotron soft X-ray), electron
microscopy and isotope microscope.
We aim to understand the diverse origin and evolutionof extraterrestrial organic matter by observation of thechemical heterogeneity of the organic macromoleculesfrom the intact (unprocessed) asteroid samples. Analysisof the insoluble organic matter that is recovered by acidtreatment of the asteroid sample will reveal the bulk
composition of the organic macromolecule, whichcharacterizes Ryugu.
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Hayabusa2 reporter briefing

Organic macromolecular solids
purified by acid treatment ofcarbonaceous chondrites. The
chemical history of the earlySolar System is recorded in its
complex molecular structure(photo: Yabuta).
Synchrotron-based scanningtransmission X-ray microscopy
BL19A, Photon Factory, KEK,Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
With a high spatial resolution of
about 30 nm, one can reveal thefunctional group chemistry of
the submicron-sized organicmatter (Photo: Yabuta)
19

Initial analysis team introduction
Soluble organics analysis teamThe kinds of organic compounds are clarified inasteroid Ryugu.
Samples are extracted with a variety of solvents,and organic molecules are identified andquantified using mass spectrometry coupled withchromatography. The main target compounds areamino acids and nitrogen-containing cycliccompounds, but all detectable molecules arecomprehensibly analyzed by ultra-high resolution
mass spectrometry. Additionally, the spatial
distribution of soluble organic compounds and theabundance and isotope ratio analysis of carbon,
nitrogen, sulfur etc., will be determined. This isconducted by an international collaborative
research team in Japan, the US, Germany andFrance.
2021/6/17

Hayabusa2 reporter briefingKyushu University clean roomand liquid chromatograph-highresolution mass spectrometer(top) and rehearsal analysis(bottom)image creditKyushu University20

Reference

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Catcher opening operationA
B
C

Particles areconfirmed
from abovechamber Ap

The sample catcher was moved to clean chamber CC3-2, and the lid of sample catcher chamber A was opened in
vacuum conditions.

pMany particles are confirmed to be in chamber A. This is thought to be the sample collected during Touchdown#1 on Ryugu.

pPart of the sample was picked up in Chamber A to be stored in vacuum in its present condition.

pFrom here, we will move to chamber CC3-3, remove the samples from chamber A in a nitrogen environment,
and open chambers B and C.

    
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MMX <https://www.mmx.jaxa.jp/>2021/6/17

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