Speeches
Tuesday, 07 October 2025
Launch of the exhibition ‘From Ryugu to Earth’ and unveil the Ryugu Asteroid Sample
Rod and I are pleased to be here today for the launch of this exhibition and to unveil the Ryugu Asteroid Sample.
I know as experts you will be used to this, but let me marvel at and savour the fact that this sample is older than the earth itself.
As Governor, it’s my pleasure to be a strong supporter of South Australia's space sector.
I am deeply encouraged by the work of the Australian Space Agency, as well as 100 space-related organisations, in advancing our national space capabilities.
In this work South Australia and Australia rely on enduring international partnerships.
As former diplomats, Rod and I understand the importance of partnerships built on mutually beneficial outcomes.
Australian is proud of its strong relationships in the space sector with the United States, Europe, India, and, of course, Japan, with whom we have enjoyed more than 45 years of treaty-level science cooperation.
In December 2020, the early morning skies above Woomera witnessed something extraordinary: the return of JAXA's Hayabusa2 mission, carrying 4.6-billion-year-old samples from asteroid Ryugu.
This was a defining moment for South Australia, demonstrating that we have the expertise, the terrain, and the trusted relationships to support international space science missions of the highest order.
The successful recovery of these ancient samples was made possible through the coordination of the Australian Space Agency, with support from the Department of Defence and both Commonwealth and South Australian governments – a testament to what can be achieved through cooperation and understanding.
I am pleased the partnership continues to deepen, with the Martian Moon eXploration mission expected to see samples from Phobos land in Australia by approximately 2031.
I thank the Australian Space Agency for coordinating this exhibition, allowing South Australians to engage with, and be inspired by, this asteroid.
Its presence here in Adelaide, let alone on earth, is testament to the relationship Australian and Japan share, and of course the extraordinary scientific knowledge and skill possessed by our two nations.
I sincerely thank JAXA for generously loaning the Hayabusa2 Ryugu sample to Australia and thank Dr Fujimoto for his role in bringing this about.
May the partnership between the Australian Space Agency and JAXA continue to strengthen and forge new opportunities, as together we reach toward the next frontier of space exploration.