Spectroscopy of C-type asteroid samples - Detection of water and organic matter in an environment to avoid terrestrial contamination -

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K03958
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 17010:Space and planetary sciences-related
• Research Institution: Japan Aerospace EXploration Agency
• Principal Investigator: Abe Masanao 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 准教授 (00270439)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: はやぶさ２ / 帰還試料 / 反射分光測定 / 水 / 有機物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the initial description of the Hayabusa2 return sample, reflectance spectroscopy measurements at 1 μm to 4 μm of the return sample were performed under the condition that the sample was placed in an environment to avoid geomaterial contamination. From the measurement data obtained, we succeeded in detecting absorption bands indicating the characteristics of hydrous minerals, CH-bonding of organic compounds, and carbonate minerals in the return sample. The sample was shown to be a scientifically first-class return sample that can be used to study the integrated action of water, organic compounds, and minerals, which is the goal of Hayabusa2.

Free Research Field

惑星科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

はやぶさ２の帰還試料に水や有機物が大量に含まれていることが分かったことにより、地球の水や生命の起源に迫る新たな知見を得ることが可能な第１級の地球外物質試料を我が国が世界で初めて手に入れたことを示した。これまでの研究は主に隕石を用いた研究であったが、水や有機物の分析研究においては、地球の物質による汚染の懸念が指摘されていたが、今回の帰還試料は地球物質汚染回避環境で初期記載が行われており、その懸念はなく信頼できるものである。