# Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center

> JAXA's curator of extraterrestrial materials

**Wikidata**: [Q60788459](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q60788459)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterrestrial_Sample_Curation_Center)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/extraterrestrial-sample-curation-center

## Summary
The Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center (ESCuC) is a Japanese facility operated by JAXA that curates and preserves extraterrestrial materials. Established in 2008, it specializes in the secure handling of space-derived samples at biosafety level 3.

## Key Facts
- Established in 2008
- Located in Japan
- Operated by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
- Functions as an instance of Extraterrestrial Materials Curation Facility
- Operates at biosafety level 3
- Also known as ESCuC and キュレーションセンター
- Maintains 3 sitelinks across Wikimedia projects
- Wikipedia articles exist in English, Japanese, and Wikimedia Commons
- Described as "JAXA's curator of extraterrestrial materials"

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center?
A: The Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center is a Japanese facility under JAXA responsible for curating and preserving extraterrestrial materials from space missions. It ensures the integrity and scientific value of samples like those from asteroid missions.

### Q: When was the Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center founded?
A: The center was established in 2008, marking Japan's dedicated facility for extraterrestrial material curation.

### Q: What biosafety level does the Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center operate at?
A: The facility operates at biosafety level 3, indicating specialized protocols for handling potentially hazardous space-derived materials.

### Q: What is the Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center's relationship to JAXA?
A: It is directly operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) as their designated curator for extraterrestrial samples.

### Q: What other names is the Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center known by?
A: The center is also known by its acronym ESCuC and the Japanese name キュレーションセンター.

## Why It Matters
The Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center addresses the critical challenge of preserving uncontaminated extraterrestrial materials for scientific analysis. By operating at biosafety level 3, it enables safe handling of potentially hazardous space samples while preventing Earthly contamination - a prerequisite for valid research on solar system origins and potential extraterrestrial life. This infrastructure underpins Japan's contributions to planetary science, supporting landmark missions like Hayabusa and Hayabusa2. Its establishment in 2008 represented a significant advancement in Japan's space exploration capabilities, ensuring that returned materials yield maximum scientific value and remain viable for future research.

## Notable For
- Being Japan's primary facility for extraterrestrial material curation under JAXA
- Operating at biosafety level 3 for secure handling of space-derived samples
- Established in 2008 as dedicated infrastructure for planetary sample preservation
- Supporting Japan's asteroid sample return missions through specialized protocols

## Body
### Overview
The Extraterrestrial Sample Curation Center is a specialized facility within Japan's space infrastructure focused on the curation of extraterrestrial materials. It functions as an instance of the Extraterrestrial Materials Curation Facility class.

### Establishment and Organization
- Founded in 2008
- Operated by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
- Maintains aliases including ESCuC and キュレーションセンター

### Technical Specifications
- Operates at biosafety level 3
- Designed for controlled handling of extraterrestrial samples
- Ensures sample integrity and prevents contamination

### Digital Presence
- Features 3 sitelinks across Wikimedia platforms
- Wikipedia articles available in English, Japanese, and Wikimedia Commons
- Associated with Google Knowledge Graph IDs /g/11gt__k6hk and /g/1212gt73
- Described as "JAXA's curator of extraterrestrial materials" in Wikidata

### Scientific Role
- Provides curation infrastructure for space mission samples
- Supports preservation of materials from celestial bodies
- Facilitates ongoing scientific analysis of extraterrestrial materials