PLANS OF PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION AND
SUBSEQUENT ANALYSES OF CAPTURED DUSTSAMPLES BY SILICA AEROGEL IN THE TANPOPOMISSION.
A. Yamagishi1, H. Hashimoto2, M. Higashide2, E. Imai3, H.
Kawai4, K. Kobayashi5, H. Mita6, K. Okudaira7, S. Sasaki8, M.
Tabata2, H. Yabuta9, Y. Yaguchi7, H. Yano2, S. Yokobori1, andTanpopo WG. 1Tokyo Univ. of Pharm. and Life Sci. E-mail:yamagish@ls.toyaku.ac.jp. 2JAXA. 3Nagaoka Univ. of Tech.
4Chiba Univ. 5Yokohama National Univ. 6Fukuoka Instit. ofTech. 7Univ. Aizu. 8Tokyo Univ. of Tech. 9Osaka Univ.
Introduction: The Tanpopo mission is a Japanese
astrobiological experiment which will be conducted on theJapanese Experiment Module (JEM) of the International Space
Station (ISS) [1]. The Tanpopo mission consists of several
subthemes: 1) capture of microbes in space, 2) exposure ofmicrobes in space, 3) exposure of organic compounds in space,4) capture of organic compounds in micrometeoroids in space, 5)
evaluation of ultra low-density aerogel developed for theTanpopo mission, and 6) capture of space debris at the ISS orbit.
In this paper, subthemes (1), (4) and (6) will be introduced as
one of coming sample return missions. Silica aerogel with 0.01 g
cm-3 density supported by higher density aerogel [2] will be used
to capture micrometeoroid and space debris at LEO. Captured
particles and their penetration tracks will be offered for various
analyses after retrieval to Earth. These samples will be analyzed
for mineralogical, organic and microbiological characteristics.
Preliminary Examination Plan: Current status of TanpopoAerogel-PET preparation will be introduced. In Preliminary
Examination (PE), Curation Team covers the receipt of retrieved
samples (Sample Aerogel Panels), sample catalog preparation fordata archiving and sample storage. Whole Documentation Teamdeals with penetration track mapping/measurement (e.g.
incoming angle, track depth and track volume). Processing Teamprepares keystones or quickstones (small pieces of aerogel)containing particles and their penetration tracks for allocation toresearchers. After preliminary characterization, the samples will
be properly processed in accordance with a request by each subteam for the subsequent detailed analyses.
Capture of Microbes in Space: Microbe Sub-Team will try
to capture microbes at LEO to explore the possibility of theirinterplanetary migration [3]. Particles potentially containing
microbes will be offered for PCR analysis.
Capture of Organic Compounds in Space: Organic SubTeam will try to detect organic compounds in micrometeoroids inspace to discuss whether IDPs containing prebiotic organic
compounds migrate among solar system bodies [4].
Capture of Space Debris at the ISS Orbit: Space Debris
Sub-Team will collect space debris at LEO.
We have almost established the procedure of analyses on themany analog samples obtained via laboratory (two-stage light gasgun) experiments. We will expand our facilities to improve eachtechnique and working efficiency.
References: [1] Yamagishi A. et al. 2009. Trans. JSASSSpace Tech. Jpn. 7: Tk 49-Tk 55. [2] Tabata M. et al. 2011. Biol.
Sci. Space. 25: 7-12. [3] Yokobori S. et al. 2009. Life Evol.
Biosph. 39: 377-378. [4] Kobayashi K. et al. 2009. Orig. Life
Evol. Biosph. 39: 4.