Asteroid explorer, Hayabusa2,reporter briefing

March 19, 2021
JAXA Hayabusa2 ProjectTopics
An overview of the sample curation andinitial analysis and introduction to the team.

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Contents
1. Overview of the current project status
2. Curation overview / team introduction
3. Summary of the initial analysis
4. Introduction to the initial analysis team
5. Future plans

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Hayabusa2 reporter briefing31. Overview of the current project status
Spacecraft operation• Regular operation is ongoing. The current solar distance (distance fromthe spacecraft to the Sun) is the shortest for the mission so far (about 120
million km on March 13). The temperature of the spacecraft has risen, but
careful operation has ensured no problems have occurred. The spacecraft
is in good condition.
Curation work
• We are continuing with high-definition optical microscope imaging andweight measurements of the particles / bulk aggregate samples returned
from Ryugu.
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Hayabusa2 reporter briefing42. Curation overview / 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

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sample��������������

leadEizo Nakamura
Okayama University, Institute forPlanetary Materials
higher-order detailed description data/ provision of curation technology• Establish analysis method based on theComprehensive Analytical System for Terrestrial
and 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 bulk
chemical) with multi-institute (NIPR, UVSOR,JASRI/SPring-8 etc.)

Hayabusa2 reporter briefingInitial detailed description,
catalogue creation Technology /R&D including storage . distribution

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

sample

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ReferenceSample distribution schedule (plan)    

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Hayabusa2 reporter briefing63. 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.

Solid organics analysis team

Hikaru Yabuta Hiroshima U.

Soluble organics analysis team

Hiroshi Naraoka Kyushu U.

Volatile analysis teamRyuji Okazaki Kyushu U. 

109 universities and research institutes in
14 countries, 269 people.
       
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4. 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)

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84. 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 thermal
conductivity are also measured.
Integrate all data to model theformation process of asteroid Ryugu.
image credit is from each institution
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94. 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.
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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 intocontact with theatmosphere.
Glove box for handling samples
without exposure to the atmosphere.
This is filled with purified nitrogengas before use.
© NoguchiKyoto U. / Kyushu U.

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4. 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.
The Ryugu solid samples will be analyzed without exposure tothe 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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Neutron irradiation / traceelement analysis
©Kyoto U. /Research Reactor Institute)

Hayabusa2 reporter briefing

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

Rare gas isotope analysis
©Kyushu U. 11

4. 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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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 ofabout 30 nm, one can reveal thefunctional group chemistry of
the submicron-sized organicmatter (Photo: Yabuta)
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4. 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.
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Kyushu University clean roomand liquid chromatograph-highresolution mass spectrometer(top) and rehearsal analysis(bottom)

image creditKyushu University
135. Future plans
Operation schedule
2021/3 Continued regular operation
Ion engine operation scheduled to begin aroundthe end of April
Press and media briefings
2021/4/TBD
Press briefing

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14Reference

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Clean chamber overview
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)  

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