Hayabusa Post-Landing & Science Results Options

[nprev]

The capsule began its return to Japan a few moments ago as I write this. Seems like a good time to start a new topic for the much-anticipated final results of this epic mission.

[Stu]

Sorry, for a moment there I actually thought you said that the techs and scientists involved in this amazing mission, involving mega hi-tech space hardware and minute quantities of literally priceless proto-planetary material, "scraped the inner surface of the inner tube with a spatula".

[pandaneko]

"scraped the inner surface of the inner tube with a spatula".

I quite agree with you here. But, that is what the newspaer said and even my earlier posting about the recovery process expected also mentioned it, in fact with my own comment at that time "how primitive it is!". I think that was a few weeks back now, after landing, of course.

However, at that time I also mentioned liquid washing at the same time for recovery of remaining grains not recovered by the spatula.

It must be a spatula of special type? I do not know.

Pandaneko

[pandaneko]

Other newspapers are starting to carry similar stories about the large number of grains newly found inside the inner tube.

The Yomiuri newspaper, for instance, says that the size of the newly found grains is from 0.01 mm down to 0.001 mm. There are apparently lots of them. It also said that they used a special spatula for the recovery of these newly found grains.

However, it also said that they think that there were a large number of Earth origin grains already resident in the first place inside the tube.

They failed to purge them before launch?, why? I am utterly at a loss.

Pandaneko

[Leither]

Other newspapers are starting to carry similar stories about the large number of grains newly found inside the inner tube.

I do hope this is correct! The sample return canister consists of two compartments, one for each landing attempt, with the compartments being sealed from each other by a cylindrical sleeve valve.

I think the recently released picture shows the top outer surface of the canister sitting embedded in the return capsule, the visible particles being the 10 or so large particles they found on the outside of the canister.

What I am hoping is that the two 0.01mm grains were found in the first of the two compartments (the one open on the first/aborted landing attempt) and that the large number of newly found grains comes from the second compartment (which would be the one open during) the 30 min landing. If the newly found grains come from the first compartment...I dare to think what they’ll find in the second one!!

I’m now growing more optimistic....lets hope for the best.

[pandaneko]

What I am hoping is that the two 0.01mm grains were found in the first of the two compartments (the one open on the first/aborted landing attempt) and that the large number of newly found grains comes from the second compartment (which would be the one open during) the 30 min landing.
I’m now growing more optimistic....lets hope for the best.

Apparently, it is not true. 0.01 mm grains were found in the second chamber. Those larger ones were not found in the chamber at all, but outside them.

Pandaneko