[1] Review the current state of the art in extraterrestrial sample curation, by examining the work being done in Europe and internationally and to write a technical report on current best practice;
[2] Devise a plan for terrestrial planetary protection that is effective, legally compliant and realistic, while minimising risk to current scientific study and optimising access to researchers for future studies;
[3] Review current knowledge and the essential requirements for such facilities, including building infrastructure and design, procedures and protocols, security, environmental conditions, documentation and databasing;
[4] Review the most suitable instrumentation for sample analysis, establish the optimum methods and instrumentation and identify those areas in which innovation and development will be required to enhance the curation and analytical capabilities of the ESCF;
[5] Make recommendations regarding the use of analogue samples as proxies for returned extraterrestrial materials. We will establish guidelines, deliver catalogues or potential analogues, and recommendations ready to be used in the event of a sample return mission. The analogue proxies are necessary in a curatorial facility for testing sample handling, storage and preparation techniques. This includes the testing of planetary protection measures as well as validating new analytical methods.
[6] Review suitable portable receiving facilities and determine the technology required in order to be able to transport samples (including those with a potential biohazard) following return to Earth most effectively.
At the conclusion of the action, we had successfully completed all the above tasks. The results of our work can be found on our website: Euro-cares.eu which includes a link to our analogues resources.
