EURO-CARES SAMPLE CURATION FACILITY: PRELIMINARY DESIGN

Introduction: EURO-CARES (European Curation of Astromaterials Returned from Exploration of Space) is a three year, multinational project, funded under the European Commission's Horizon2020 research programme to cre-ate a roadmap for the implementation of a European Extra-terrestrial Sample Curation Facility (ESCF). Such an ESCF would be designed to receive and curate samples returned from Solar System exploration missions to asteroids, Mars, and the Moon. Examination and long-term curation of extra-terrestrial samples requires that the samples are kept as clean as possible to minimize the risk of detrimental Earth contaminants and, at the same time, to ensure that Martian samples remain contained to prevent release of any potential biohazard. The requirements for a combined high con-tainment and ultraclean facility will naturally lead to the development of a highly specialized and unique facility that will require the development of novel scientific and engineering technologies. Here we report on the organization of the project with a focus on the Work Package 3, “Facilities and Infrastruc-ture”, and especially on a Preliminary Design of the facility. The project: EURO-CARES team work is organized around five technical Work Packages (WP), led by scientists and engineers representing institutions from all over Europe. Along with the scientific and technical requirements, the EURO-CARES project is also focused on a high impact public engagement plan (for more information, see www.euro-cares.eu). WP3 – Facilities and Infrastructure: The objective of this work package is to define the state-of-the-art facilities required to receive, contain, and curate extra-terrestrial samples whilst guaranteeing terrestrial planetary protection. All the aspects, from the building design to the storage/curation of the samples are covered by this work package. After an extensive literature review, the WP3 team initiated discussions and collaborations with public and private institutions, and also hosted an international meeting at the NHM Vienna (13-16th April 2016). Preliminary Design: A key aspect of the facility is modularity. The design we propose includes a Sample Receiv-ing Facility and a Sample Curation Facility, with ultra-clean laboratories specifically designed to handle biohazardous samples and separate laboratories for non-biohazardous samples. The suggested design should allow further develop-ments over time, to accommodate the samples from different return missions, and to allow updates of the instrumen-tation following new technological and scientific developments. Here are the main points we identified:  The operation of the facility could start during spacecraft and/or payload assembly, where ultra-clean Assembly, Integration, and Verification (AIV) is required.  A ratio of 3:1 is recommended between technical/services rooms versus laboratory spaces.  To aid servicing and maintenance, instruments should have as much of their workings exterior to the clean and/or contained areas as possible. Whenever possible, instruments will have to be adapted and accomodated with a part in the clean area, and the other part in the "unclean" area.  The ESCF should include engagement areas for visitors. The building should be adapted to local risks (e.g., envi-ronmental conditions), and to global risks (such as theft).  Samples should be kept in an inert gas atmosphere (N and/or Ar). This gas, whether produced on site or delivered by an external company, will be frequently checked for purity, and its isotopic composition will be monitored.  Low-temperature and cryogenic storage and curation will be considered, especially for samples with high volatile and/or organic contents.  Each part of the facility (biocontained or not) will have specific water/air/waste systems. These systems as well as the electric power system will require a high level of redundancy to ensure that cleanliness and/or biosafety is not compromised during possible system failures.  Cleanrooms will be checked regularly for particles and different types of contaminants, and cleaned as much as required to ensure they remain at the required level of cleanliness.  Offices, meeting rooms, social rooms, etc. will be fully integrated in the design of the ESCF, to increase the func-tionality and create a motivating working environment.