Frequently Asked Questions
Use of Astromaterials 3D data and how to reference or cite it
Acquiring the 3D Models
Acquiring XCT Imagery
Upcoming Public Release of Additional Rocks
Sample Research Requests
Astromaterials 3D Website & Explorer Troubleshooting
List of Astromaterials 3D Abstracts & Publications
NASA Feature Articles
Use of Astromaterials 3D data and how to credit or cite it
Can I use Astromaterials 3D’s data for my research or project?
- NASA should be acknowledged as the source of the material (see above for credit).
- It is unlawful to falsely claim copyright or other rights in NASA material.
- If the NASA material is to be used for commercial purposes, including advertisements, it must not explicitly or implicitly convey NASA's endorsement of commercial goods or services.
- The NASA insignia logo (the blue "meatball" insignia), the retired NASA logotype (the red "worm" logo) and the NASA seal may not be used for any purpose without explicit permission.
- NASA content - images, audio, video, and computer files used in the rendition of 3-dimensional models, such as texture maps and polygon data in any format - generally are not subject to copyright in the United States. You may use this material for educational or informational purposes, including photo collections, textbooks, public exhibits, computer graphical simulations and Internet Web pages. This general permission extends to personal Web pages.
How do I cite or credit the Astromaterials 3D Website & Explorer in general?
How do I attribute credit for the 3D Models?
How do I attribute credit for the XCT image data?
(Note: Astromaterials 3D worked with two XCT labs to produce the XCT images. Please refer to the Scan Parameters Document that is included with each XCT downloadable zip file to specify which XCT lab produced the scan for a particular rock.)
Acquiring the 3D Models
Can I get .obj files for the 3D models of the rocks that I see in the Astromaterials 3D Explorer?
Acquiring XCT Imagery
Can I download the XCT scans of the rocks that I see in the A3D Explorer?
What 3D visualization and analysis software should I use to analyze the downloadable XCT data?
Upcoming Public Release of Additional Rocks
Will you be adding more lunar and meteorite samples to the Astromaterials 3D website and Explorer?
Sample Research Requests
How do I request a lunar or meteorite subsample for research and analysis and what are the restrictions and the approval process?
Astromaterials 3D Website & Explorer Troubleshooting
Should the Astromaterials 3D Explorer work on my device?
Sometimes the 3D model of the rock in the Astromaterials 3D Explorer behaves strangely. Why does this happen?
Why is it taking a long time for the 3D models to load?
What is the recommended system for the Astromaterials 3D Explorer?
How did you make a web browser display so much data?
Occasionally I see small regions on the rock model that appear blurry—what is this caused by?
List of Astromaterials 3D Abstracts & Publications
Graff, P. V., Willis, K. J., Miller, R., Charney, D., Blumenfeld, E. H., and Foxworth, S. (2021) Science for All: Enhancing Opportunities for Virtual Learners to Engage with NASA Science and Assets. AGU Fall Meeting 2021.
Gawronska, A. J., McLeod, C. L., Blumenfeld, E. H., Hanna, R., and Zeigler, R. A. (2021) New insights into lunar basalt flow emplacement from Apollo sample studies via X-ray computed tomography. 12th Annual Lunar and Small Bodies Graduate Forum (LunGradCon).
Gawronska, A. J., McLeod, C. L., Blumenfeld, E. H., Hanna, R., and Zeigler, R. A. (2021) New Insights into Lunar Basalt Flow Morphologies from X-Ray Computed Tomography of Apollo Basalt Samples. Tomography for Scientific Advancement, North America conference.
De Oliveira, J.H.C., Neal, C.R., and Blumenfeld, E.H. (2021) Understanding Orientation and Formation: Using XCT Data to Quantify Void Space in Lunar Samples. 52nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2021. View Poster
Gawronska, A. J., McLeod, C. L., Blumenfeld, E. H., Hanna, R., and Zeigler, R. A. (2021) Lunar Magmatism: New Interpretations of Apollo Basalt Petrogenesis from X-Ray Computed Tomography. 52nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
Blumenfeld, E. H., Beaulieu, K. R., Thomas, A. B., Evans, C. A., Zeigler, R. A., Oshel, E. R., Liddle, D. A., Righter, K., Hanna, R. D., and Ketcham, R. A. (2019) 3D Virtual Astromaterials Samples Collection of NASA's Apollo Lunar and Antarctic Meteorite Samples to be an Online Database to Serve Researchers and the Public. 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2019. Poster: View Poster
Beaulieu, K. R., Blumenfeld, E. H., Thomas, A. B., Evans, C. A., Zeigler, R. A., Oshel, E. R., Liddle, D. A., Righter, K., Hanna, R. D., and Ketcham, R. A. (2019) Visualization of Fused Structure-From-Motion and Micro X-Ray Computed Tomography Data Sets for Novel 3D Virtual Astromaterials Samples Collection of NASA's Apollo Lunar and Meteorite Samples. 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2019.
Liu, Y., Eckley, S. A. and Blumenfeld, E. H. (2019) Most Shergottites Were Once Vesicular: Evidence from 3D Computed X-Ray Tomography. 82nd Annual Meeting of The Meteoritical Society 2019.
Gawronska, A. J., McLeod, C. L., Blumenfeld, E. H., Hanna, R., and Zeigler, R. A. (2019) Preliminary Analyses of Apollo 15 Sample 15085 via X-Ray Computed Tomography. 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2019.
Blumenfeld, E. H., Beaulieu, K. R., Thomas, A. B. H., Evans, C. A., Zeigler, R. A., Oshel, E. R., Liddle, D. A., Righter, K., Hanna, R. D., and Ketcham, R. A. (2018) Creating a High-Resolution 3D Virtual Astromaterials Samples Collection of NASA's Apollo Lunar Samples and Antarctic Meteorite Collections for an Online Database to Serve Researchers and the Public. 100th AGU Fall Meeting 2018. View Poster
Thomas, A. B. H., Blumenfeld, E. H., Beaulieu, K. R., Evans, C. A., Zeigler, R. A., Oshel, E. R., Liddle, D. A., Righter, K., Hanna, R. D., and Ketcham, R. A. (2018) Overview of the Digitization Workflow Post Image Acquisition of Apollo Lunar and Antarctic Meteorite Samples using Agisoft Photoscan for the NASA 3D Astromaterials Virtual Samples Collection. 100th AGU Fall Meeting 2018.
Blumenfeld E. H., Beaulieu, K., Oshel, E. R., Evans, C. A., Zeigler, R. A., Liddle, D. A., Righter, K., Hanna, R. D., and Ketcham, R. A. (2017) 3D Virtual Astromaterials Samples: Combining High-Resolution Precision Photography and X-ray Computed Tomography to Create Research-Grade 3D Model of NASA's Apollo Lunar and Antarctic Meteorite Samples for Curation, Research and Education. ToScA North American Symposium 2017.
Blumenfeld, E. H., Evans, C. A., Oshel, E. R., Liddle, D. A., Beaulieu, K., Zeigler, R. A., Hanna, R. D., and Ketcham, R. A. (2017) Research-Grade 3D Virtual Astromaterials Samples: Novel Visualization of NASA's Apollo Lunar Samples and Antarctic Meteorite Samples to Benefit Curation, Research, and Education. 48th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2017. View Poster
Beaulieu, K., Blumenfeld, E. H., Liddle, D. A., Oshel, E. R., Evans, C. A., Zeigler, R. A., Righter, K., Hanna, R. D., and Ketcham, R. A. (2017) Structure-From-Motion Photogrammetry and Micro X-Ray Computed Tomography 3-D Reconstruction Data Fusion for Non-Destructive Conservation Documentation of Lunar Samples. 48th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2017.
Blumenfeld, E. H., Evans, C. A., Zeigler, R. A., Righter, K., Beaulieu, K., Oshel, E. R., Liddle, D. A., Hanna, R. D., and Ketcham, R. A., Todd, N. S. (2016) An Interdisciplinary Method for the Visualization of Novel High-Resolution Precision Photography and Micro-XCT Data Sets of NASA's Apollo Lunar Samples and Antarctic Meteorite Samples to Create Combined Research-Grade 3D Virtual Samples for the Benefit of Astromaterials Collections Conservation, Curation, Scientific Research and Education. 98th AGU Fall Meeting 2016.
Blumenfeld, E. H., Evans, C. A., Oshel, E. R., Liddle, D. A., Beaulieu, K., Zeigler, R. A., Hanna, R. D., and Ketcham, R. A. (2015) Comprehensive Non-Destructive Conservation Documentation of Lunar Samples Using High-Resolution Image-Based 3D Reconstructions and X-Ray CT Data. 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2015. View Poster
Blumenfeld, E. H., Evans, C. A., Oshel, E. R., Liddle, D. A., Beaulieu, K., Zeigler, R. A., Hanna, R. D., and Ketcham, R. A. (2014) High-resolution imaged-based 3D reconstruction combined with X-Ray CT data enables comprehensive non-destructive documentation and targeted research of astromaterials. 77th Annual Meeting of The Meteoritical Society 2014.