ESA’s Sample Analogue Curation Facility (SACF), located on the Harwell Campus in the UK, is designed to be a focal point for simulant development (including regolith, rocks etc.) and curation activities in Europe for Space Applications, with a focus on Exploration and Science. The main aim of the SACF is to provide access to analogue and simulant materials for research and technology development projects within ESA, its member states, and potentially worldwide.

To meet this aim, the SACF is curating ESA’s Exploration Sample Analogue Collection (ESA²C): a range of samples designed to represent some of the surface rocks and regolith found on the Moon, Mars, Phobos, and various asteroids. These samples are available for loan for technology development projects and research of all levels, public engagement activities, and education purposes. Please visit the ESA²C page for more information on the types of materials in the collection, and for details on how to apply to borrow these materials.

Another aim of the SACF is to perform research into regolith properties (mechanical, physical, and spectral) to further understand and develop the ESA²C simulant collection, and to contribute to the research of understanding planetary surfaces. The SACF is also involved in the development of technologies for in situ resource utilisation (ISRU) processes of planetary regolith materials i.e. how to prepare and use the regolith as a building material and for resource extraction for long-term missions on the lunar surface.

Spaceship ECSAT, an innovation group designed to develop low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) concepts for future exploration, will make use of the SACF for many of its activities. These include testing of low-TRL technologies and understanding how these technologies can use simulants or how they are affected by varying planetary surface materials. Please see the Spaceship ECSAT page for further information.

Alongside the University of Central Florida, the SACF offers complimentary consulting on all simulant-related matters. Please see the FAQ page for some answers to common questions, and for contact details to submit your own questions.

The SACF is working towards a number of goals including:

– Develop and expand the ESA²C collection with new simulant materials.

– Generate ‘recipes’ for simulants, with standard procedures for making specific simulants.

– Become a central point of contact for simulant-related activities in Europe.

– Build collaborative links with international institutions/industries related to simulant development activities and research into regolith properties.

– Aid with current ESA mission activities including PROSPECT (LUNA 27) and the Mars Sample Return Campaign.

At the SACF, we have a suite of analytical instruments for baseline characterisation of analogue and simulant materials, along with processing equipment for the development of new simulants. Please see the SACF and Harwell Campus Capabilities page for more information about specific equipment within the SACF and the range of facilities onsite.

Current development projects include a lunar dust simulant and a lunar pyroclastic simulant for testing of near-future lunar exploration technologies, including in situ resource utilisation (ISRU) processes.

The SACF also has a strong synergy with ESA’s Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory (AML) that allows for a greater range of instruments to be used for sample characterisation and simulant development activities.