Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office

Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office
Name	Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office
Formation	1969
Type	Government office
Headquarters	NASA Johnson Space Center
Parent organization	NASA

Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office. It is a specialized facility within NASA responsible for preserving and distributing extraterrestrial samples for scientific study. Located at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, it serves as the primary repository for materials collected by American space missions. The office ensures these precious samples are protected from terrestrial contamination and made available to the global research community.

History and establishment

The office was formally established in 1969 in preparation for the return of the first samples from the Moon collected during the Apollo program. Its creation was driven by the need for a dedicated, contamination-controlled environment to handle the lunar samples from Apollo 11 and subsequent missions. Early planning involved collaboration with scientists from the United States Geological Survey and institutions like the Smithsonian Institution. The facility's design and protocols were influenced by lessons learned from the Genesis (spacecraft) and Stardust (spacecraft) sample return missions, which highlighted the extreme sensitivity required for pristine curation.

Functions and responsibilities

The primary function is the long-term curation of all NASA-held extraterrestrial materials, including those from the Moon, asteroids, comets, the solar wind, and cosmic dust. Key responsibilities include maintaining the physical integrity of collections, documenting the chain of custody for all samples, and preventing their alteration by Earth's atmosphere or biosphere. The office also develops and enforces strict planetary protection protocols to safeguard both the samples and Earth from potential biological contamination. It manages the allocation of samples to researchers through a peer-reviewed proposal system administered by the NASA Planetary Science Division.

Collections and facilities

The office curates one of the world's most comprehensive collections of astromaterials. Its holdings include over 2,200 individual samples from the Apollo program, cosmic dust particles collected by high-altitude NASA aircraft, solar wind atoms from the Genesis (spacecraft) mission, and comet particles from the Stardust (spacecraft) mission. A major recent addition is material from the asteroid 101955 Bennu, returned by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. The main curation facilities are the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility and the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division laboratories, which feature ultra-clean rooms, nitrogen-purged gloveboxes, and specialized storage vaults.

Acquisition and curation processes

Acquisition begins with the meticulous planning of sample collection during missions like OSIRIS-REx or the planned Mars Sample Return campaign. Upon Earth return, sample containers are transferred under strict security to the NASA Johnson Space Center. The curation process involves initial examination in an ISO Class 4 cleanroom, often using tools developed for the Apollo program. Samples are cataloged, imaged using techniques like scanning electron microscopy, and stored in inert environments. The office employs non-destructive analysis methods, such as X-ray computed tomography, to characterize samples before allocation, preserving their scientific value.

Scientific research and contributions

Samples curated by the office have been fundamental to planetary science. Studies of lunar samples have revolutionized understanding of the Moon's geology, the Late Heavy Bombardment, and the early history of the Solar System. Analysis of particles from Comet Wild 2, returned by Stardust (spacecraft), provided direct evidence of materials formed in different regions of the early solar nebula. Research on the Genesis (spacecraft) solar wind samples has refined models of solar composition. The ongoing study of OSIRIS-REx samples from asteroid 101955 Bennu is expected to yield insights into the origin of water and organic molecules on Earth.

Collaborations and partnerships

The office maintains extensive collaborations with domestic and international entities. It works closely with the NASA Planetary Science Division, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center on mission planning and analysis. Internationally, it partners with counterpart agencies like the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which curates samples from the Hayabusa and Hayabusa2 missions, and the European Space Agency. The office also supports research by providing samples to scientists at institutions worldwide, including the University of Chicago, the California Institute of Technology, and the Natural History Museum, London.

Category:NASA facilities Category:Planetary science organizations Category:Research institutes in Texas