MMX Curation

Fukai R., Usui T., Fujiya W., Takano Y., Bajo K., Beck A., Bonato E., Chabot L. N., Furukawa Y., Genda H., Hibiya Y., Jourdan F., Kleine K., Koike M., Matsuoka M., Miura N. Y., Moynier F., Okazaki R., Russell S. S., Sumino H., Zolensky E. M., Sugahara H., Tachibana S., Sakamoto S., Abe M., Cho Y., Kuramoto K. (2024), "Curation protocol of Phobos sample returned by Martian Moons eXploration", Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Volume 59, p. 321-337. https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.14121

OSIRIS-REx Curation

Tahara R., Hatakeda K., Nishimura M., Yogata K., Fukai R., Miyazaki A., Yada T., Enokido Y., Abe M., Kawasaki S., Sakurai R., Okada T., Pilorget C., Bibring J. -P., Hamm V., Lourit L., Loizeau D., Riu L., Yumoto K., Cho Y., Sugita S., Nakahara S., Mori S., Aikyo Y., Kameda S., Stabbins R., Shimizu Y., Miyamoto H., Hitomi Y., Nakano A., Nagashima K., Sugahara H., Suzuki S., Kimura S., Usui T. (2025), “JAXA curation for Bennu samples returned by the NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission”, Meteoritics & Planetary Science (early release).http://doi.org/10.1111/maps.70066

Hayabusa2 Curation

Yada T., Abe M., Nishimura M., Sawada H., Okazaki R., Takano Y., Sakamoto K., et al. (2023), A Curation for Uncontaminated Hayabusa2-Returned Samples in the Extraterrestrial Curation Center of JAXA: From the Beginning to Present Day. Earth, Planets and Space, Volume 75, Article number 170.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-023-01924-2.

Miyazaki A., Yada, T., Yogata, K., Hatakeda, K., Nakato, A., Nishimura, M., Nagashima, K., et al. (2023), A Newly Revised Estimation of Bulk Densities and Examination of the Shape of Individual Ryugu Grains. Earth, Planets and Space, Volume 75, Article number 171.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-023-01904-6.

Le Pivert-Jolivet T., Brunetto R., Pilorget C., Bibring J., Nakato A., Hamm V., Hatakeda K., Lantz C., Loizeau D., Riu L., Yogata K., Baklouti D., Poulet F., Aléon-Toppani A., Carter J., Langevin Y., Okada T., Yada T., Hitomi Y., Kumagai K., Miyazaki A., Nagashima K., Nishimura M., Usui T., Abe M., Saiki T., Tanaka S., Nakazawa S., Tsuda Y., and Watanabe S. (2023), "Space weathering record and pristine state of Ryugu samples from MicrOmega spectral analysis", Nature Astronomy, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-023-02092-9

Hatakeda K., Yada T., Abe M., Okada T., Nakato A., Yogata K., Miyazaki A., Kumagai K., Nishimura M., Hitomi Y., Soejima H., Nagashima K., Yoshitake M., Iwamae A., Furuya S., Usui T., and Kitazato K. (2023), Homogeneity and heterogeneity in near-infrared FTIR spectra of Ryugu returned samples", Earth, Planets and Space, Volume 75, Article number 46.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-023-01784-w

Loizeau D., Pilorget C., Riu L., Brunetto R., Bibring J. -P., Nakato A., Aléon-Toppani A., Hatakeda K., Yogata K., Carter J., Pivert-Jolivet Le T., Yada T., Okada T., Usui T., Langevin Y., Lantz C., Baklouti D., Miyazaki A., Nishimura M., Nagashima K., Kumagai K., Hitomi Y., Abe M., Saiki T., Tanaka S., Nakazawa S., Tsuda Y., and Watanabe S. (2023), "Constraints on Solar System early evolution by MicrOmega analysis of Ryugu carbonates", Nature Astronomy Volume 7, p. 391-397.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-022-01870-1

Nakato A., Yada T., Nishimura M., Yogata K., Miyazaki A., Nagashima K., Hatakeda K., Kumagai K., Hitomi Y., Soejima H., Bibring J. -P., Pilorget C., Hamm V., Brunetto R., Riu L., Lourit L., Loizeau D., Pivert-Jolivet Le T., Lequertier G., Moussi-Soffys A., Abe M., Okada T., Usui T., Nakazawa S., Saiki T., Tanaka S., Terui F., Yoshikawa M., Watanabe S., and Tsuda Y. (2023), "Variations of the surface characteristics of Ryugu returned samples", Earth, Planets and Space, Volume 75, Article number 45.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-022-01754-8

Nakato A., Inada S., Furuya S., Nishimura M., Yada T., Abe M., Usui T., Yoshida H., Mikouchi T., Sakamoto K., Yano H., Miura N. Y., Takano Y., Yamanouchi S., Okazaki R., Sawada H., and Tachibana S. (2022), "Ryugu particles found outside the Hayabusa2 sample container", Geochemical Journal, Volume 56, Issue 6, p. 197-222.https://doi.org/10.2343/geochemj.GJ22017

Pilorget C., Okada T., Hamm V., Brunetto R., Yada T., Loizeau D., Riu L., Usui T., Moussi-Soffys A., Hatakeda K., Nakato A., Yogata K., Abe M., Aléon-Toppani A., Carter J., Chaigneau M., Crane B., Gondet B., Kumagai K., Langevin Y., Lantz C., Le T., Lequertier G., Lourit L., Miyazaki A., Nishimura M., Poulet F., Arakawa M., Hirata N., Kitazato K., Nakazawa S., Namiki N., Saiki T., Sugita S., Tachibana S., Tanaka S., Yoshikawa M., Tsuda Y., Watanabe S., and Bibring J.-P. (2022), "First compositional analysis of Ryugu samples by the MicrOmega hyperspectral microscope", Nature Astronomy, Volume 6, p.221-225.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-021-01549-z

Yada T., Abe M., Okada T., Nakato A., Yogata K., Miyazaki A., Hatakeda K., Kumagai K., Nishimura M., Hitomi Y., Soejima H., Yoshitake M., Iwamae A., Furuya S., Uesugi M., Karouji Y., Usui T., Hayashi T., Yamamoto D., Fukai R., Sugita S., Cho Y., Yumoto K., Yabe Y., Bibring J. -P., Pilorget C., Hamm V., Brunetto R., Riu L., Lourit L., Loizeau D., Lequertier G., Moussi-Soffys A., Tachibana S., Sawada H., Okazaki R., Takano Y., Sakamoto K., Miura N. Y., Yano H., Ireland R. T., Yamada T., Fujimoto M., Kitazato K., Namiki N., Arakawa M., Hirata N., Yurimoto H., Nakamura T., Noguchi T., Yabuta H., Naraoka H., Ito M., Nakamura E., Uesugi K., Kobayashi K., Michikami T., Kikuchi H., Hirata N., Ishihara Y., Matsumoto K., Noda H., Noguchi R., Shimaki Y., Shirai K., Ogawa K., Wada K., Senshu H., Yamamoto Y., Morota T., Honda R., Honda C., Yokota Y., Matsuoka M., Sakatani N., Tatsumi E., Miura A., Yamada M., Fujii A., Hirose C., Hosoda S., Ikeda H., Iwata T., Kikuchi S., Mimasu Y., Mori O., Ogawa N., Ono G., Shimada T., Soldini S., Takahashi T., Takei Y., Takeuchi H., Tsukizaki R., Yoshikawa K., Terui F., Nakazawa S., Tanaka S., Saiki T., Yoshikawa M., Watanabe S., and Tsuda Y. (2022), "Preliminary analysis of the Hayabusa2 samples returned from C-type asteroid Ryugu", Nature Astronomy, Volume 6, p.214-220.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-021-01550-6

Hayabusa Curation

Yada T., Fujimura A., Abe M., Nakamura T., Noguchi T., Okazaki R., Nagao K., Ishibashi Y., Shirai K., Zolensky M. E., Sandford S., Okada T., Uesugi M., Karouji Y., Ogawa M., Yakame S., Ueno M., Mukai T., Yoshikawa M., and Kawaguchi J. (2014), "Hayabusa-returned sample curation in the Planetary Material Sample Curation Facility of JAXA", Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Volume 49, p. 135-153. https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.12027

Fujimura A., Abe M., Yada T., Nakamura T., Noguchi T., Okazaki R., Nagao K., Naraoka H., Ishibashi Y., Shirai K., Zolensky M. E., Sandford S., Okada T., Uesugi M., Karouji Y., Ogawa M., Yakame S., Ueno M., Mukai T., Yoshikawa M., and Kawaguchi J. (2013), "Hayabusa-returned sample curation in the Planetary Material Sample Curation Facility of JAXA", JAXA Special Publication: Hayabusa Asteroid Sample catalogue 2011, JAXA-SP-12-012E: 1-50. https://jaxa.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/4219

Yada T., Abe M., Okada T., Nakamura T., Noguchi T., Okazaki R., Ishibashi Y., Shirai K., Uesugi M., Karouji Y., Yakame S., Ueno M., Mukai T., Yoshikawa M., Kawaguchi J., and Fujimura A. (2013), "Initial description of asteroid Itokawa particles returned by Hayabusa spacecraft (Special issue: What has been clarified by analytical results of Hayabusa-returned samples). (Japanese)", Planetary People - The Japanese Society for Planetary Sciences, Volume 22, p. 68-77. https://doi.org/10.14909/yuseijin.22.2_68

Curation Facility

Abe M. (2021), "The JAXA Planetary Material Sample Curation Facility", Sample Return Missions. The Last Frontier of Solar System Exploration (book), Chapter 12. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818330-4.00012-4

McCubbin M. F., Herd K. D. C., Yada T., Hutzler A., Calaway J. M., Allton H. J., Corrigan M. C., Fries D. M., Harrington D. A., McCoy J. T., Mitchell L. J., Regberg B. A., Righter K., Snead J. C., Tait T. K., Zolensky E. M., and Zeigler A. R. (2019), "Advanced Curation of Astromaterials for Planetary Science", Space Science Reviews, Volume 215, Article number 48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-019-0615-9

Abe M., and Fujimura A. (2010), "Curation of HAYABUSA's sample container. (Japanese)", Planetary People - The Japanese Society for Planetary Sciences, Volume 19, p. 211-213.https://jaxa.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/26130

Yada T., Fujimura A., Kato M. (2007), "New facilities for planetary sample curation in Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency: toward a new vision of planetary material sciences", Planetary People - The Japanese Society for Planetary Sciences, Volume 16, p. 170-176.https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1520290882841050496

Instrumentation

Hatakeda K., Yada T., Yogata K., Nakato A., Miyazaki A., Kumagai K., Nagashima K., Nishimura M., Tahara R., Okada T., Abe M., Usui T. (2024), Sample Containers for Storage and Transportation of Returned Asteroid Samples in JAXA Curation. JAXA Research and Development Report JAXA-RR-23-008E.https://doi.org/10.20637/0002000243.

Cho Y., Yumoto K., Yabe Y., Mori S., Ogura A. J., Yada T., Miyazaki A., Yogata K., Hatakeda K., Nishimura M., Abe M., Usui T., and Sugita S. (2022), "Development of a multispectral stereo-camera system comparable to Hayabusa2 optical navigation camera (ONC-T) for observing samples returned from asteroid (162173) Ryugu," Planetary and Space Science, Volume 221, 105549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2022.105549

Riu L., Pilorget C., Hamm V., Bibring J. -P., Lantz C., Loizeau D., Brunetto R., Carter J., Lequertier G., Lourit L., Okada T., Yogata K., Hatakeda K., Nakato A., and Yada T. (2022), "Calibration and performances of the MicrOmega instrument for the characterization of asteroid Ryugu returned samples," Review of Scientific Instruments, Volume 93, 054503. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0082456

Yada T., Fujimura A., Abe M., Noguchi T., Nakamura T., Okazaki R., Ogawa M., Okada T., Ishibashi Y., Shirai K., Karouji Y., Uesugi M., Nakato A., Kumagai K., Nishimura M., Matsui S., Sakamoto K., Yoshitake M., Yogata K., and Iwamae A. (2021), "Development of electrostatically controlled micro-manipulation system in purified ultra-clean nitrogen environment and its performances to handle micrometer-sized asteroidal regolith particles," JAXA Research and Development Report, JAXA-RR-21-009E. https://doi.org/10.20637/00048396

Ito M., Tomioka N., Uesugi K., Uesugi M., Kodama Y., Sakurai I., Okada I., Ohigashi T., Yuzawa H., Yamaguchi A., Imae N., Karouji Y., Shirai N., Yada T., and Abe M. (2020), "The universal sample holders of microanalytical instruments of FIB, TEM, NanoSIMS, and STXM-NEXAFS for the coordinated analysis of extraterrestrial materials," Earth, Planets and Space, Volume 72, Article number 133. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-020-01267-2

Uesugi M., Hirahara K., Uesugi K., Takeuchi A., Karouji Y., Shirai N., Ito M., Tomioka N., Ohigashi T., Yamaguchi T., Imae N., Yada T., and Abe M. (2020), "Development of a sample holder for synchrotron radiation-based computed tomography and diffraction analysis of extraterrestrial materials," Rev. Sci. Instrum., Volume 91, 035107. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5122672

Uesugi M., Noguchi R., Matsumoto T., Matsuno J., Nagano T., Tsuchiyama A., Harada S., Yokoyama K., Yodo Y. and Takeda N. (2014), "Investigation of cutting method for small samples of Hayabusa and future sample return missions," Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Volume 49, Issue 7, p. 1186-1201. https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.12322

Tsuchiyama A., Nakano T., Uesugi K., Uesugi M., Takeuchi A., Suzuki Y., Noguchi R., Matsumoto T., Matsuno J., Nagano T., Imai Y., Nakamura T., Ogami T., Noguchi T., Abe M., Yada T., and Fujimura A. (2013), "Analytical dual-energy microtomography: A new method for obtaining three-dimensional mineral phase images and its application to Hayabusa samples," Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Volume 116, p. 5-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.11.036

Uesugi M., Uesugi K., Takeuchi A., Suzuki Y., Hoshino M., and Tsuchiyama A. (2013), "Three-dimensional observation of carbonaceous chondrites by synchrotron radiation X-ray CT Quantitative analysis and developments for the future sample return missions," Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Volume 116, p. 17-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2012.09.025

Fujimura A. (2011), "Curation Facility for Recovered Sample: Electrostatic Controlling Probe of Quartz Glass and Micromanipulator for Handling Small Particles of Asteroid ITOKAWA (Japanese)," Seidenki Gakkai-shi, Volume 35, p. 255-260.https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1520290883707434112

Contamination Control

Nishimura M., Hitomi Y., Nakano A., Kumagai K., Nagashima K., Fukai R., Kimura S., Suzuki S., and Astromaterial Science Research Group. (2025), Contamination Analyses of Cleanrooms and Clean Chambers at the Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center of JAXA in 2024. JAXA Special Publication JAXA-SP-24-003E.https://doi.org/10.20637/0002001442.

Hitomi Y., Suzuki S., Hatakeda K., Kumagai K., Nishimura M., Yada T., Okada T., Abe M., and Usui T. (2023),"Contamination analyses of clean rooms and clean chambers at the Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center of JAXA in 2021 and 2022." JAXA Special Publication, JAXA-SP-22-006E.https://doi.org/10.20637/00049030

Sakamoto K., Takano Y., Sawada H., Okazaki R., Noguchi T., Uesugi M., Yano H., Yada T., Abe M., Tachibana S. (2022), and The Hayabusa2 Project Team. "Environmental assessment in the prelaunch phase of Hayabusa2 for safety declaration of returned samples from the asteroid (162173) Ryugu: background monitoring and risk management during development of the sampler system." Earth Planets and Space, Volume 74, Article number 90.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-022-01628-z

Yoshitake M., Nakato A., Kumagai K., Nishimura M., Yada T., Tachibana S., Okada T., Abe M., Yurimoto H., Usui T., and Astromaterial Science Research Group. (2021), "Cleanliness level of the Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center of JAXA." JAXA Technical Report, JAXA-RR-20-004E.https://doi.org/10.20637/00047360

Shirai N., Karouji Y., Kumagai K., Uesugi M., Hirahara K., Ito M., Tomioka N., Uesugi K., Yamaguchi A., Imae N., Ohigashi T., Yada T., and Abe M. (2020), "The effects of possible contamination by sample holders on samples to be returned by Hayabusa2." Meteoritics & Planetary Science, Volume 55, Issue 7, p. 1665-1680.https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.13480

Sugahara H., Takano Y., Karouji Y., Kumagai K., Yada T., Ohkouchi N., Abe M. and Hayabusa2 project team. (2018),"Amino acids on witness coupons collected from the ISAS/JAXA curation facility for the assessment and quality control of the Hayabusa2 sampling procedure." Earth, Planets and Space, Volume 70, Article number 194.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-018-0965-7

Karouji Y., Ishibashi Y., Uesugi M., Yada T., Nakato A., Kumagai K., Okada T., and Abe M. (2014), "The handling and contamination control of Hayabusa-returned sample in Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center of JAXA. (Japanese)" Chikyukagaku, Volume 48, Issue 4, p. 211-220.https://doi.org/10.14934/chikyukagaku.48.211

Data Management

Astromaterials Science Research Group, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, Université Paris-Saclay, CNES, Nakahara S., Shimokoshi K., Yumoto K., et al. (2025), OSIRIS-REx Bennu Sample Curatorial Dataset. https://doi.org/10.17597/ISAS.DARTS/CUR-Bennu-description.

Astromaterials Science Research Group, Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale, Université Paris-Saclay, CNES, Yumoto K., Yabe Y., Cho Y., et al. (2022), Hayabusa2, Ryugu Sample Curatorial Dataset. https://doi.org/10.17597/ISAS.DARTS/CUR-Ryugu-description.

Nishimura M., Nakato A., Abe M., Nagashima K., Soejima H., Yada T., Yogata K., Miyazaki A., Hatakeda K., Yoshitake M., Iwamae A., Pilorget C., Brunetto R., Loizeau D., Bibring J. -P., Riu L., Yumoto K., Cho Y., Yabe Y., Sugita S., Ito M., Okada T., Tachibana S., and Usui T. (2023), "Ryugu Sample Database System (RS-DBS) on the Data Archives and Transmission System (DARTS) by the JAXA curation." (2023), Earth Planets and Space, Volume 75, Article number 131. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2827441/v1

Uesugi M., Yada T., Karouji Y., Nakato A., Kumagai K., Hashiguchi M., Matsumoto T., Okada T., and Abe M. (2016), "Development and operation status of data management system for Hayabusa-Returned samples in JAXA Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center (Japanese)." JAXA Research and Development Report: Journal of Space Science Informatics Japan, Volume 5, JAXA-RR-15-006, p. 59-70. https://jaxa.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/1886

Research Achievements

Project Researchers

Takuya Ishizaki (2021-)

Ishizaki T., Nagano H., Tanaka S., Sakatani N., Nakamura T., Okada T., Fujita R., Alasli A., Morita T., Kikuiri M., Amano K., Kagawa E., Yurimoto H., Noguchi T., Okazaki R., Yabuta H., Naraoka H., Sakamoto K., Tachibana S., Watanabe S., and Tsuda Y. (2023), "Measurement of Microscopic Thermal Diffusivity Distribution for Ryugu Sample by Infrared Lock-in Periodic Heating Method." Int. J. Thermophys., Volume 44, Article number 51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-023-03158-6

Ishizaki T., and Nagano H. (2023), "Microscale mapping of thermal contact resistance using lock-in thermography." Int. J. Therm. Sci., Volume 193, 108475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2023.108475

Ishizaki T., Kawahara T., Tomioka K., Tanaka S., Sakatani N., Nakamura T., and Nagano H. (2022), "Measurement of Thermal Diffusivity Distribution for Murray and Murchison Meteorites Using Lock-in Thermography." International Journal of Thermophysics, Volume 43, article number 97. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-022-03026-9

Ryota Fukai (2020-2021)

Fukai R., and Arakawa S. (2021), "Assessment of Cr isotopic heterogeneities of volatile-rich asteroids based on multiple planet formation models." The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 908, Article number 64. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abd2b9

Tasuku Hayashi (2019-2021)

Hayashi T., Muramatsu H., Konno R., Yamasaki Y. N., Mitsuda K., Takano A., Maehata K., and Hara T. (2020), "A Concept Design of TES X-ray Microcalorimeter Array with Different Thickness Absorber Toward the Observation from 50 eV to 15 keV for STEM-EDS." J. Low Temp. Phys., Volume 199, p.908-915. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10909-019-02326-z

Hayashi T., Muramatsu H., Maehisa K., Yamasaki Y. N., Mitsuda K., Maehata K., and Hara T. (2019). "Construction of Response Function of TES X-ray Microcalorimeter for STEM-EDS." IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., Volume 29, Number 5, p. 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1109/TASC.2019.2902304

Daiki Yamamoto (2019-2021)

Yamamoto D., Kawasaki N., Tachibana S., Kamibayashi M., and Yurimoto H. (2021). "An experimental study on oxygen isotope exchange reaction between CAI melt and low-pressure water vapor under simulated Solar nebular conditions." Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, Volume 314, p.108-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2021.08.011