At the Australian Space Agency (ASA) Pavilion in the IAC Exhibition hall, a sample grain from asteroid Ryugu that was returned to Earth by the JAXA Hayabusa2 mission, as well as a model of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, were on display! The Hayabusa2 sample capsule containing the asteroid grains separated from the spacecraft in space to land in Woomera, South Australia, in December 2020. It is safe to say that the mission would not have been a success without the help and support of Australia!
After the IAC concluded on Friday evening (October 3, 2025), these valuable exhibits were transported to the ASA headquarters in Adelaide by ASA Maddie Parks and Steve Campbell.
ASA had a circular pavilion at the IAC. The exhibits focussed on Australia's unique characteristics for space exploration, from rocket launch to return capsule recovery. The floor design was divided into three areas representing Australia's space sector development, with the carpet showing the surface of the Woomera desert in Southern Australia, the Moon and Mars. The photo above shows the Woomera area, the site of our sample capsule return.
Inside the ASA pavilion, you could find the model of the Hayabusa2 spacecraft and the sample grain from asteroid Ryugu which were displayed as part of a collaboration with us at ISAS!
The asteroid Ryugu sample grain exhibit in preparation at the ASA pavilion. Steve Campbell from ASA and Associate Professor Elizabeth Tasker from JAXA ISAS are pausing for a quick photo as they make the final check to the lighting and microscope for the exhibit.
Installation of the Ryugu grain sample is complete! Maddie Parks from ASA and Elizabeth Tasker from JAXA check the position and visibility of the exhibit and are delighted that the asteroid grain can be seen so clearly under the microscope. It can be hard displaying such a tiny sample, and we want lots of people to be able to see it.
As the IAC draws to a close, Maddie Parks places the Ryugu sample carefully in a protective case before the journey to the Australian Space Agency (ASA) headquarters in Adelaide.
The case is then tucked inside a larger protective case, which will also protect the display stand.
From the IAC in Sydney, we head to Sydney airport! Soon, it will be time to check-in for our flight. Of course, we had help with this journey: the Australian Space Agency mascot is "Pura" the kangaroo! Pura kept a careful eye on the Ryugu sample as it travelled through Australia.
Pura is waiting patiently for our flight. As an astronaut kangaroo, Pura is a "kanganaut"!
Maddie Parks and Steve Campbell carry the asteroid Ryugu sample onto the flight. Behind them, a Virgin Australia flight attendant securely fastens the Hayabusa2 model in its protective box to the seat. As this step requires a bit of preparation, the ASA team boarded early.
The Ryugu sample stayed with the team at all times, and carried with extreme care!
Although the flight was delayed by about 30 minutes, we arrived safely in Adelaide at just after 10pm. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief!
（2025/11/05）