The capsule landed in the Australian Australian Outback on December 6 and JXA scientists quickly moved it to an Australian Australian pop-up lab called the “Quick Quick Look Facility” or QLF. Scientists soon confirmed that they had captured the gases, but tests were carried out to confirm that they were of foreign origin. Yesterday, the team confirmed that the gas sample matched the original analysis, confirming the first-of-its-kind gases captured from deep space.
The sample container inside the re-entry capsule was opened on December 14, and we confirmed that the black grains of Raigun were inside. This is outside the main chamber, and the potential particles are attached to the catcher entry of the sample. (English publication available tomorrow) https://t.co/NAw1R1cjvy pic.twitter.com/5BfXxfH29h
– HAYABUSA2 JAXA (@ haya2e_jaxa) December 14, 2020
At the same time, the JXA showed material captured from the planet’s surface in the form of black debris and small rocks. They were found in the “A” sample chamber, so JX believes they were collected and stored during the first two touchdowns. The second touchdown should kick the samples that will be stored in chamber “C”. Earlier, the agency confirmed the presence of a grain of “black sand”, believed to be from Ryuguna, attached just outside the main chamber.
After opening all the chambers to weigh and confirm the material, JXA will begin evaluating the samples using microscopes and infrared spectra analysis. We should learn more about the formation in early 2021, and by the end of 2021, JX will start sharing samples with NASA and other agencies.
So far, JXA estimates that it has collected 1 to 2 grams of material, or 100 to 10 times more than expected. If accurate, it would be the largest asteroid specimen ever collected, directly from space. The only other extraterrestrial asteroid specimens also came from Japan via the Hayabusa 1 mission, which collected only 1 mg of material.
It also means that unlike the asteroid fragments that have fallen to Earth, the Hybusa 2 specimens are free of terrestrial contamination. Scientists hope that the material, the essential artifacts of our ancient solar system, will give an indication of how the Earth – and even life – was initially formed.
