CAPTEM is the Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extraterrestrial Materials. CAPTEM is chartered by the Discipline Scientist for NASA's Cosmochemistry Program to advise on matters concerning the Apollo lunar samples, sample return missions, and solid materials of the solar system.

CAPTEM's historical and continuing responsibility is to oversee the care and distribution of extraterrestrial samples collected by NASA. CAPTEM evaluates requests for allocation and use of Apollo lunar samples, and forwards its recommendations to the Discipline Scientist. CAPTEM also evaluates requests for samples of cosmic dust collected by NASA. CAPTEM oversees the care of extraterrestrial samples collected by NASA, including curation procedures, contamination control, documentation, and facilities care and use at the Johnson Space Center.

CAPTEM acts as a conduit for exchange of ideas among the planetary materials community, NASA administrators, and space mission principal investigators.

Apollo 17 orange soil 74220	Apollo 17 troctolite 76535	ALH 84001 carbonate mineral globules	Cosmic dust grain

Mars Sample Return

Last updated
June 6, 2008