DEVELOPMENT OF SAMPLE TRANSFER AND ANALYTICAL METHODSFOR THE HAYABUSA2 RETURNED SAMPLES.
M. Uesugi1, M. Ito2, N. Tomioka2, K. Uesugi1, A. Yamaguchi3, N. Imae3, T. Ohigashi4, Y. Karouji5, T. Yada6,and M. Abe6, 1Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI/SPring-8) (uesugi@spring8.or.jp), 2Japan
Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), 3National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR),
4
Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), 5Tokyo Metropolitan University, 6Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA).
Introduction: Hayabusa2 spacecraft was successfully launched at December 2014 toward asteroid Ryugu.
The target asteroid is classified as C-type, which shows similar features to the carbonaceous chondrites in thereflectance spectrum (REF). Thus, the samples to be obtained and returned to the Earth by the spacecraft will
include organic materials and volatile species such as noble gases and water.
Previously, analyses of such returned samples were performed under the collaboration of several analyticalmethods [1-3], in order to integrate the result and establish a comprehensive knowledge of the sample, and tominimize the consumption of samples. However, the samples have to be transferred between facilities, evenbetween countries, and moved from holder to holder for each analysis. Those transfer could cause severe problems; the contamination of terrestrial materials, sample damages such as fragmentation, breaking and even sample lost. Since organics and volatile materials to be included in the Hayabusa2 returned samples are abundant interrestrial surface, we should protect the samples from the contamination of those materials as well as damages
during the transfer and analyses.
Extraterrestrial sample curation center (ESCuC) of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) organizeda special team constitutes of members of Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and technology (JAMSTEC)
Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) Antarctic Meteorite Research Center, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), Institute for Molecular Science (IMS)and JAXA ESCuC under a collaboration agreement, and started developments of devices and techniques for thesample transfer and analysis of Hayabusa2 returned samples from March, 2015. The team was organized facilities which have state-of-the-art analytical instruments and experiences of curatorial works of precious natural
samples, but beyond the specialists of the extraterrestrial materials, in order to introduce latest specialties andknowledge from diverse scientific and technological fields.
Final goals of the team are to accumulate comprehensive knowledge of the sample transfer for interinstruments, inter-institutes, to create special sample holder for multi-instrument, and to construct analytical
protocols of Hayabusa2 returned samples. In addition, our attempt will make gain of the Hayabusa2 sample
return mission more fruitfully, by sharing experiences of this challenging development and enhancing crosscollaboration between facilities, across the field boundary.
In this paper, we report the current status of the development and introduce the future works.
Current status: Currently we are developing a sample transfer container between facilities, and sample
holders applicable multiple analytical instruments, such as SEM, TEM, STXM, and NanoSIMS etc. It is notedthat a sample holder for a specific analytical device has been well developed already. However, a sample holder
which is applicable to multiple analytical devices of different principles was rarely and hardly developed, because it often reduces the accuracy of acquired data and simplicity of the analysis.
Development of the new sample transfer container between facilities, named as Facility to Facility Transfer
Container (FFTC) was almost finished, and is under the stage of the examination of suitability for the requirements. FFTC consists only of SUS, Qz glass for a viewport and viton for O-rings which can be used inside theclean chambers for the returned samples equipped at JAXA ESCuC, and can be ultrasonically cleaned by ultrapure-water and organic solvent. We confirmed that it can hold positive pressure (~70 kPa) for a month with
undetectable pressure loss.
Several materials, such as Nitto Denko Gecko tape and polyimide film, are under the examination for thesample holders of multiple analytical devices. Those materials are planned to use for the sample holding during
the analysis such as SEM and X-ray computed tomography (CT) instead of glues and resins which are used inprevious studies. We are also developing methods for the evaluation of the cleanness of those materials. Newsample holders for ultrathin sections are also under the development. For the protection of samples from contamination of terrestrial atmosphere, most sample preparation processes will be performed inside gloveboxes withpurified gas species. Those new holders of ultrathin sections are developed for easy handling in the gloveboxes.
Future works: We plan to perform a series of rehearsals of the sample analysis with the developed devices
through the member’s facilities, in order to evaluate the sample damages, contaminations and analytical protocols. Details and results of the examination will be reported at the next Hayabusa symposium.
References: [1] Nakamura T. et al. (2011) Science, 333,1121-1125. [2] Nakamura T. et al. (2008) Science,321, 1664-1667. [3] Uesugi M. et al. (2014) Earth Planet. Space, 66,102.