Astromaterials Curation and Acquisition Office has the responsibility for protecting, preserving, and distributing extraterrestrial samples in support of solar system exploration. These sample collections include lunar rocks and regoliths returned by the Apollo missions, meteorites recovered by the US Antarctic Search for Meteorites including meteorites of both Lunar and Martian origin, dust particles collected from the stratosphere, particles of solar wind, and space exposed surfaces retrieved from satellites and spacecraft. Maintaining pristine samples is critical to extracting scientific information from these unique, and often very small, samples. It is equally important to make the collections available for scientific study and education, because it is these activities that give the samples their true value. The laboratories within this office are recognized by the scientific community as the "Gold Standard" for these functions.

This office also builds on past experience in preparing for the acquisition of new extraterrestrial samples. Early collaboration with mission concept developers allows for the incorporation of this expertise on planning for sample handling and integrity. New technologies and techniques are being assessed to improve materials used to touch samples or in container seals, provide for handling of microsamples, and provide for manipulation and storage of samples at low temperature and low pressure. Research and technology projects are carried out within this office to advance the available techniques for handling and processing new types of samples. Significant additions to the astromaterials collection will include samples from Comet Wild-2 collected by the Stardust mission and samples from asteroid Itokowa to be returned by the Hayabusa mission. Planning is underway to prepare for new robotic missions to the Moon as part of the Vision for Space Exploration.