ANDERS opened the discussion by presenting a list of what should be done prior to a comet sample return. Firstly, realistic simulations should be performed for the major processes forming and altering organic matter in interstellar space, e.g. irradiation and heating of condensates. The products of these experiments should be comprehensively analysed, especially in the informative mass range 20-300 amu. Particular attention should be given to the recent observation that the lack of sufficient reaction time in the laboratory could not easily be traded off by an increase of flux.
To develop methods for the analysis of nitrogen-compounds without exposure to liquid water was another important area since these compounds tended to be rather unstable and therefore diagnostic for specific processes which then in turn could be matched up in simulation experiments. Unfortunately, chondrites in general were not useful in that respect since they had been exposed to liquid water. However, of two new antarctic C2-chondrites, which both were rich in organic matter and carbon, one was loaded with amino acids while the other was devoid of them -a fact of yet nebulous, but possibly important significance.
New methods for analysing polymers were needed to preserve the structural information to a higher degree than by presently used techniques which involved degradation. They definitively should be applied to the tar balls in porous IDPs which possibly were of cometary origin.
The marker for ion-molecule reactions, D/H, should be determined in virtually all organic materials and the D-carrier(s) needed to be identified.
He then pointed out that the -not only semantic -confusion concerning the graphite-amorphous carbon-kerogen-PAH continuum should be cleared using new improved micro-techniques in addition to IR-spectroscopy.
Finally, more scientists had to be attracted to instrument development and to analysis of extraterrestrial organic matter by providing a congenial atmosphere and a better *The entire discussion of 1.5 hr duration was video-taped, transcribed, and is excerpted here. The competent assistance of Nicole Grfinewald in transcribing the videotape is gratefully acknowledged.