The Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is responsible for curating all of NASA's extraterrestrial samples. Under the governing document, NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 7100.10F+ derivative NPR 'Curation of Extraterrestrial Materials', JSC is charged with 'The curation of all extraterrestrial material under NASA control, including future NASA missions. 'The Directive goes on to define Curation as including'...documentation, preservation, preparation, and distribution of samples for research, education, and public outreach.

McCubbin, Francis M.

NASA Technical Reports Server

Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 1
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Francis M. McCubbin
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20170006928 2019-08-31T06:39:37+00:00Z
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 2
The Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office at NASA Johnson Space Center
(JSC) is responsible for curating all of NASA’s extraterrestrial samples. Under the
governing document, NASA Policy Directive (NPD) 7100.10F + derivative NPR
“Curation of Extraterrestrial Materials”, JSC is charged with “The curation of all
extraterrestrial material under NASA control, including future NASA missions.” The
Directive goes on to define Curation as including “…documentation, preservation,
preparation, and distribution of samples for research, education, and public
outreach.”
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 3
Lunar
(1969) 
Apollo program 
lunar rocks and 
soils; Luna 
samples
Meteorite
(1977)
Antarctic Search 
for Meteorites 
(ANSMET) 
program
Cosmic 
Dust
(1981) 
Cosmic dust 
grains from 
Earth’s 
stratosphere 
from high 
altitude aircraft
Space 
Hardware
(1985)
Space exposed 
hardware from 
spacecraft 
Genesis
(2004)
Genesis solar 
wind samples at 
Earth-Sun L1 
point
Stardust 
(2006)
Cometary and 
interstellar 
samples from 
Comet Wild 2
Hayabusa
(2012) 
Samples 
collected from 
JAXA asteroid 
mission to 
Itokawa
Our Near Future . . .OSIRIS-REx
( 2024)
Asteroid sample 
return from 
101955 Bennu
Hayabusa II
(2021) 
Subset of samples 
collected from 
JAXA asteroid 
mission to 
(162173) 1999 
JU3
Mars 
(2030s) 
Jezero, NE 
Syrtis, or 
Columbia Hills
Mars 2020 may 
be first leg in 
MSR campaign
Moon
( 2020s)
Non-volatile-
rich 
farside/polar 
sample return
Current New 
Frontiers Call
Comet
( 2030s)
Cold curated 
surface sample 
return from a 
comet
Current New 
Frontiers Call
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 4
• The curation of samples should not begin when they arrive at
JSC (though this is important).
• The curation of samples should not begin when they arrive on
Earth (though this is important).
• The curation of samples should not begin while you are building
the spacecraft (though this is important).
• The curation of samples should begin with the initial planning
and design of the mission, and be carried through every aspect
of the mission.
• This is the only way to ensure that you maximize the science return of
your samples, particularly if something unexpected happens
• CK samples, including blanks, witness plates, and hardware coupons help
to establish the baseline contamination for scientific investigations
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 5
Component Al epoxy foil
honeyc
omb lubricant misc NVR paint polymer sapphire steel Ti Total
KSC 2 4 1 1 6 7 4 25
OCAMS 3 2 2 2 1 10
OLA 15 1 16
OTES 1 1
OVIRS 2 1 1 4
REXIS 1 1 2 1 1 6
spacecraft 4 3 8 1 16
SRC 30 51 1 1 3 18 6 3 3 45 1 161
support 1 1 1 19 2 11 35
TAGSAM 28 11 1 9 4 6 57 4 120
Total 61 90 4 4 11 64 19 3 21 9 102 6 395 • Prepared at JSC
• Hand carried to Denver or 
KSC
• Deployed for one month
• Hand carried back to JSC
Materials either in direct contact with sample, or line of sight
CK Strategy for OSIRIS-REx
Witness Plates – High purity materials continuously 
exposed during spacecraft ATLO
Ultrapure Al-foil and Si-wafers are exposed during spacecraft 
assembly.
They are analyzed by SEM each month (while others are archived) 
for near real-time feedback on the contamination environment 
that the spacecraft is exposed to.
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 6
OR-MA-0002 OR-MA-0013
Solar array panel structural assembly + Honey-
comb composite
Perfluorinated polyether Braycote  601
Materials either in direct contact with sample, or line of sight
CK Strategy for OSIRIS-REx
OSIRIS-REx coupon storage 
cabinet at JSC
Materials Coupons – Examples of materials used in 
the spacecraft that are possible sources of 
contamination.
Several hundred materials in total.
Some analyzed now, most archived for posterity in a 
dedicated cabinet in an ISO 7 cleanroom.
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 7
CK Strategy for Mars 2020
• Will follow closely with the strategies
implemented for OSIRIS-REx
• CK samples will include witness plates and
hardware coupons for any spacecraft
components that might come into contact
with samples, including any lubricants or
machining fluids used during the fabrication
of the spacecraft
• The CK collection will be stored in the JSC
Microparticle Impact Lab (formerly Space
Exposed Hardware Lab) within nitrogen
flow cabinets
Cabinets identical to the one 
that houses OSIRIS-REx CK 
samples have been acquired 
for Mars 2020 CK samples
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 8
Mars (along with Europa and Enceladus) is
designated as Planetary Protection Class V
restricted Earth-return. This designation is for
sample-return missions from bodies deemed by
scientific opinion to be of significant interest to
the process of chemical evolution and/or the
origin of life.
- MSR could represent our first
restricted Earth-Return mission
- This has important implications for
the delivery of samples to Earth, and
the subsequent handling, processing,
and curation of samples once they are
returned
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 9
NASA Interim Directive
NID 8020.109A 
Planetary Protection Provisions for Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions
Effective Date: March 30, 2017
Category V, Restricted Earth Return (Noted Summary Requirements): “Impact avoidance and contamination control
including: clean room assembly, microbial containment of sample, breaking chain of contact with target planet, sample
containment and biohazard testing in receiving laboratory (continuing monitoring of project activities, preproject advanced
studies and research, as needed).”
“2.3.3 For PP Category V missions designated as "Restricted Earth Return," an extensive set of additional documentation,
detailed in section 2.7, shall be required. The associated activities and reviews are intended to ensure that the Earth's
biosphere is not adversely affected by the introduction of material from returned samples.
2.3.3a The highest degree of concern is expressed by the prohibition of destructive impact upon return, the need for
containment throughout the return phase of all returned hardware which directly contacted the target body and/or any
unsterilized material from the body, and the need for containment of any unsterilized sample collected and returned to
Earth.
2.3.3b After the flight mission there is a need to conduct, under strict containment and using approved techniques, timely
analyses of the unsterilized sample collected and returned to Earth. If any sign of a non-terrestrial replicating entity is
found, the returned sample must remain contained unless treated by an effective sterilizing procedure.”
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 10
USAMRIID – Fort Detrick
BSL-4 Pressurized Suit Laboratory
USAMRIID – Fort Detrick
ABSL-4 BSC Class III (Glovebox) Laboratory
Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) is required for work with dangerous and exotic agents that pose a high
individual risk of aerosol-transmitted laboratory infections and life-threatening disease that is
frequently fatal, for which there are no vaccines or treatments, or a related agent with
unknown risk of transmission (e.g., unknown viable life on extraterrestrial geologic material or
flight hardware).
Agents with a close or identical antigenic relationship to agents requiring BSL-4 containment
must be handled at this level until sufficient data are obtained either to confirm continued
work at this level, or re-designate the level to less than BSL-4.
There are two models for BSL-4 laboratories:
• Cabinet Laboratory — Manipulation of agents must be performed in a Class III Biosafety
Cabinet (BSC); i.e., glovebox
• Suit Laboratory — Personnel must wear a positive pressure supplied air protective suit.
Negative Pressure BSL-4 cabinet and suit laboratories have special engineering and design
features to prevent microorganisms from being disseminated into the environment.
Laboratory staff must have specific and thorough training in handling extremely hazardous
infectious agents and must understand the primary and secondary containment functions of
standard and special practices, containment equipment, and laboratory design characteristics.
All laboratory staff and supervisors must be competent in handling agents and procedures
requiring BSL-4 containment in accordance with institutional policies controls access to the
laboratory.
Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) Laboratory
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 11
DOT Packaging Requirements for Transport of infectious 
substances from BSL-4 Facilities (from BMBL 2009)
The DOT packaging for transporting infectious substances by aircraft are
required by domestic and international aircraft carriers, and are the basis
for infectious substance packaging for motor vehicle, railcar, and vessel
transport.
Category A Infectious Substance (UN 2814 and UN 2900): A Category A
material is an infectious substance that is transported in a form that is
capable of causing permanent disability or life-threatening or fatal disease
to otherwise healthy humans or animals when exposure to it occurs. An
exposure occurs when an infectious substance is released outside of its
protective packaging, resulting in physical contact with humans or animals.
Examples of the UN standard triple packaging system for materials known or suspected of being a
Category A infectious substance. The package consists of a watertight primary receptacle or
receptacles; a watertight secondary packaging; for liquid materials, the secondary packaging must
contain absorbent material in sufficient quantities to absorb the entire contents of all primary
receptacles; and a rigid outer packaging of adequate strength for its capacity, mass, and intended use.
Each surface of the external dimension of the packaging must be 100 mm (3.9 inches) or more. The
completed package must pass specific performance tests, including a drop test and a water-spray test,
and must be capable of withstanding, without leakage, an internal pressure producing a pressure
differential of not less than 95 kPa (0.95 bar, 14 psi). The completed package must also be capable of
withstanding, without leakage, temperatures in the range of -40ºC to +55ºC (-40ºF to 131ºF).
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 12
Conceptual BSL-4 Labs: Containers and Trucks – Air-Transportable
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 13
Conceptual BSL-4 Labs: Modular BSL-4 lab at JSC
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 14
NASA Interim Directive
NID 8020.109A 
Planetary Protection Provisions for Robotic Extraterrestrial Missions
Effective Date: March 30, 2017
2.7.4.5 Sample Pre-Release Report
Before an extraterrestrial sample is released to the general scientific community for
investigation, a "Sample Pre-Release Report“ shall be prepared certifying that, if released, the
sample will not harm the Earth's biosphere. This report verifies that biohazard and life
detection protocols have been executed and that samples are free of hazard to the Earth's
biosphere and are, therefore, safe for release.
2.3.3b
After the flight mission there is a need to conduct, under strict containment and using
approved techniques, timely analyses of the unsterilized sample collected and returned to
Earth. If any sign of a non-terrestrial replicating entity is found, the returned sample must
remain contained unless treated by an effective sterilizing procedure.
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 15
Martian Samples
Preliminary 
Examination 
Life detection
Curated sample for 
future studies
In tandem?
Determining the work flow for this process 
will require substantial community input and 
integration of multiple NASA policy documents
Under BSL-4
Sterilized 
sample
Samples for initial 
scientific examination
(CAPTEM)
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 16
Some Outstanding Questions
• What percentage of sample will be allocated for PE, LD, and preserved
for future studies?
• Typically 50-75% is preserved in a pristine state. Is this reasonable for MSR?
• What instruments will be used for PE and LD?
• Should a subset of samples be sterilized to facilitate immediate release
prior to the completion of life detection studies?
• What high priority science questions can be answered with sterilized samples?
• What high priority science questions can be answered only with pristine
samples?
• If extant life is detected, we will need to conduct research and answer
high priority science questions under BSL-4 conditions that are also
organically and inorganically clean
• Positive pressure clean labs in negative pressure BSL-4 facility
Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science | NASA Johnson Space Center 17


Preparing to Receive and Handle Martian Samples When They Arrive on Earth

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