Presented here are the observations and interpretations from a comprehensive analysis of 16 representative particles returned from the C-type asteroid Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 mission. On average Ryugu particles consist of 50% phyllosilicate matrix, 41% porosity and 9% minor phases, including organic matter. The abundances of 70 elements from the particles are in close agreement with those of CI chondrites. Bulk Ryugu particles show higher δ18O, Δ17O, and ε54Cr values than CI chondrites. As such, Ryugu sampled the most primitive and least-thermally processed protosolar nebula reservoirs. Such a finding is consistent with multi-scale H-C-N isotopic compositions that are compatible with an origin for Ryugu organic matter within both the protosolar nebula and the interstellar medium. The analytical data obtained here, suggests that complex soluble organic matter formed during aqueous alteration on the Ryugu progenitor planetesimal (several 10’s of km), <2.6 Myr after CAI formation. Subsequently, the Ryugu progenitor planetesimal was fragmented and evolved into the current asteroid Ryugu through sublimation.
The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission is now under study by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Its scope includes the world's first landing on one of the Martian moons, collecting samples from the surface, and returning to Earth. This paper describes the orbit design for MMX. Nominal and backup trajectories for launch in 2024 and 2026 are discussed. The Mars orbit insertion (MOI) sequence using 3-impulse maneuvers is introduced. A new scheme, the robust MOI, is also proposed as a contingency to enhance the robustness of the mission sequence. A method to design a robust MOI trajectory and examples are presented.