Further characterization of carbonaceous materials in Hayabusa‐returned samples to understand their origin
Masayuki Uesugi, Motoo Ito, Hikaru Yabuta, Hiroshi Naraoka, Fumio Kitajima, Yoshinori Takano, Hajime Mita, Yoko Kebukawa, Aiko Nakato, Yuzuru Karouji
Meteoritics & Planetary Science
doi:10.1111/maps.13236
“Carbonaceous materials in the sample catcher of the Hayabusa spacecraft were assigned as category 3 particles. We investigated the category 3 particles with a suite of in situ microanalytical methods. Possible contaminants collected from the cleanrooms of the spacecraft assembly and extraterrestrial sample curation center (ESCuC) were also analyzed in the same manner as category 3 particles for comparison. Our data were integrated with those of the preliminary examination team for category 3 particles. Possible origins for the category 3 particles include contamination before and after the operation of the Hayabusa spacecraft.”
