Guests: John Batchelor, Emily Lakdawalla, Dr. David Livingston.  Topics:  Hayabusa2 asteroid, rover landings, sample return mission.  You are invited to comment, ask questions, and discuss the Space Show program/guest(s) on the Space Show blog. Comments, questions, and any discussion must be relevant and applicable to Space Show programming. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are not permitted without prior written consent from The Space Show (even if for personal use) & are a violation of the Space Show copyright. We do not permit the commercial use of any Space Show program or part thereof, nor do we permit Space Show programs to be edited, placed on YouTube, or other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted in news articles, papers, academic & research work but must be cited or referenced in the proper citation format. Contact Dr. Livingston for questions about our copyright and trademark policies which we do enforce.  This program is archived on The Space Show website, podcasting, and blog sites with permission from John Batchelor. Please visit the John Batchelor Show website for more information about this fine program, www.johnbatchelorshow.com.  Remember, your Amazon Purchases Can Help Support The Space Show/OGLF (www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.  Please note that audio and transition issues are a result of copying the John Batchelor broadcast & are not within my control as they originate in the Batchelor studio.

John Batchelor and I welcomed back Emily Lakdawalla to discuss Hayabusa2, the JAXA mission that recently reached its target asteroid, Ryugu, which will land 4 rovers on the surface of the asteroid and then carry out a sample return mission back to Earth.  Emily described the mission, some of the special equipment onboard including the tool that will create a crater on the surface for acquiring the samples.  Emily also described the unique rovers that have no wheels and manage to do their job despite the very low gravity on this asteroid.  Another topic was the carbonaceous makeup of the asteroid and the significance it might hold for understanding the early start of the universe.  Organics were discussed so don't miss what she said about them and their significance in the scientific study and analysis of this C-class asteroid.  Toward the end of our one segment Hotel Mars program, Emily said that the sample return would land in the Australian Outback, she described the landing process, then the return to Japan and the division to scientists around the world for studying the returned samples.

You can email Mr. Batchelor or Emily through me at drspace@thespaceshow.com.  Emily can also be reached through her blog at The Planetary Society.