Inventories, Loan Agreements, Returning Samples
The NASA Johnson Space Center Curation Office is instituting new procedures to better account for lunar samples allocated for research. There are currently over 10,500 lunar samples allocated to Principal Investigators. The Curation Office needs to reduce this very large inventory for several reasons. Most importantly, returned samples are needed for new allocations when pristine samples are not required. It’s important to remember that these samples are national treasures, and must be safeguarded. The return of samples to the Lunar Collection in the Curation Office at JSC ensures that they are available for reallocation. This concept has been emphasized by a recent NASA Inspector General audit and reinforced by the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters.
Lunar Inventory and Loan Agreements
Lunar inventory are an important part of maintaining control of lunar samples. The inventory is an annual requirement and is so stated in the Loan Agreement. We will be more diligent in our efforts to fulfill that requirement on an annual basis. The new stipulation within Curation is that a PI cannot be allocated samples from any of the Curation collections if they are delinquent with any of the required inventories. A current loan agreement will also be required for the allocation of samples. The duration of the loan agreement will be increased to cover the usual length of time for the study of the samples allocated, usually 5 years.
Return of Samples No Longer in Use
All samples that are not part of an active research project recently approved by the Curation Analysis Team for Extraterrestrial Materials (CAPTEM) must be returned to the JSC Curation Office. If there are future plans for research with these samples, a request must be submitted to the Curation Office for CAPTEM approval. The approved samples, or any new samples requested, will be allocated for a designated period of time (typically 5 years). It will be possible to request an extended loan period. New samples will not be allocated from any Curation collection until samples no longer the subjects of active research are returned.
The Curation Office will assist in the return process in every way possible. The most important part of the process is to document the history of the samples while they were in your possession. This information must be recorded on the Curatorial Form F-75, (Return Sample Accountability & History). A Microsoft Word version of the F-75 form can be downloaded from the Curation Website at Instructions for Sample Returns
If requested, electronic versions of the form including sample numbers and original weights can be sent to assist you in this process.
Transferring Samples to a Colleague
If you plan to retire and transfer samples to a colleague, CAPTEM has recently defined steps that must be followed. Although this will be a significant effort, these steps must be taken to assure the integrity of the lunar collection. We want you to work closely with us to accomplish the mission of returning the samples to the Curation Office.
A PI-to-PI transfer requires that the recipient of samples must have a CAPTEM-approved lunar request that identifies the desired samples to be transferred to the new PI. In addition both individuals must be approved.
PI’s with current Loan Agreements. The current PI must document the status of the samples to be transferred (including the current weight) on Curatorial Form F-75, Return Sample Accountability & History. All samples not reassigned to the new PI must be returned to the Curation Office. Each sample must be reconciled with the F-75 form to document the existing weight and condition, potential contamination issues, or whether it has been consumed and no longer exists.
Samples currently larger than 10 grams must be hand carried when they are returned to the Curation Office. No single shipment of lunar samples can exceed 10 grams. The procedures for returning samples can be found on the Curation website at Instructions for Sample Returns
The Curation Office and the Science Mission Directorate appreciate your attention to these procedures and our efforts to preserve the integrity of the Apollo Lunar Collection. Your assistance can assure the science community that these samples will be available for continuing research well into the future.