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NASA Ball NASA
Policy
Directive
NPD 1387.2H
Effective Date: April 05, 2019
Expiration Date: April 05, 2024
COMPLIANCE IS MANDATORY FOR NASA EMPLOYEES
Printable Format (PDF)

Subject: Loan of Lunar Samples for Public Display

Responsible Office: Office of Communications


1. POLICY

It is NASA's policy to allow public access to lunar samples from the Apollo Program by providing loans, both in the United States and in foreign countries, to educate and inform the public about the accomplishments and program goals sought and achieved in NASA's space programs.

2. APPLICABILITY

a. This NASA Policy Directive (NPD) is applicable to NASA Headquarters and NASA Centers, including Component Facilities and Technical and Service Support Centers.

b. This language applies to Jet Propulsion Laboratory (a Federally Funded Research and Development Center), other contractors, grant recipients, or parties to agreements only to the extent specified or referred in the appropriate contract, grant, or agreement.

c. In this directive, all mandatory actions (i.e., requirements) are denoted by statements containing the term "shall." The terms: "may" or "can" denote discretionary privilege or permission; "should" denotes a good practice and is recommended, but not required; "will" denotes expected outcome; and "are/is" denotes descriptive material.

d. In this directive, all document citations are assumed to be the latest version unless otherwise noted.

3. AUTHORITY

National Aeronautics and Space Act, as amended, 51 U.S.C. 20112 (a) (3), 20113(a).

4. Applicable Documents and Forms

a. NPD 1050.1, Authority to Enter into Space Act Agreements.

b. NPD 1380.1, Managing Agency Communications.

c. NPD 1387.1, NASA Exhibits Program.

d. NPR 1387.1, NASA Exhibits Program.

e. NPD 2081, Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted and Conducted Programs of NASA.

f. NPD 7100.10, Curation of Institutional Scientific Collections.

g. NAII 1050-1, Space Act Agreement Guide.

5. RESPONSIBILITY

a. The Associate Administrator for Communications, as Chairperson of the Communications Coordinating Council (CCC), shall be responsible for issuing and managing this directive, as prescribed in NC.1000-31.

b. Loans of lunar samples for public display shall be managed at the Johnson Space Center's (JSC) External Relations Office.

c. The Director for Public and Stakeholder Engagement, Office of Communications, NASA Headquarters, shall forward all requests for lunar sample loans to the External Relations Office, JSC, for evaluation.

d. The JSC Center Director has overall responsibility for the Agency's lunar sample loans.

e. JSC's External Relations Office shall manage loans of lunar samples for public display by:

(1) Administering and maintaining control and accountability for loans of all lunar samples for public display from JSC Curation.

(2) Providing appropriate lunar samples for short- and long-term loans for approved domestic and foreign public displays.

(3) Managing agreements for public display of lunar samples and all prescribed loan requirements, including security and handling procedures.

(4) Negotiating lunar sample agreements for public display with foreign entities will only occur after the review and concurrence from the Office of International and Interagency Relations and the Office of the General Counsel, NASA Headquarters, as prescribed by NPD 1050.1 and NAII 1050-1.

(5) Theft of lunar samples or missing lunar samples shall be reported to the local Office of the Inspector General, the Director for Public and Stakeholder Engagement Division at NASA Headquarters, the External Relations Office, JSC, and the Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office at JSC.

(6) Approving or disapproving all proposed plans for long-term public display of lunar samples, both domestic and foreign.

(7) Retaining, as property of NASA, all lunar samples allocated for public display purposes. Lunar samples will not be committed for display on a permanent basis.

(8) Coordinating with the Associate Administrator for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs and the Director for Public and Stakeholder Engagement Division when responding to all Congressional requests and proposals for display of lunar samples.

(9) Advising the Associate Administrator for the Office of Communications, through the Director for Public and Stakeholder Engagement Division, of any significant problems or other matters of substance related to the program for display of lunar samples.

(10) Providing the Chief of Public and Stakeholder Engagement Division, Headquarters, Office of Communications with an annual report for public displays of all lunar samples, to include: date, location, exhibitor, and attendance.

f. Center Public Affairs offices, through respective Center Director offices, are responsible for fulfilling domestic requests for public display of lunar samples and exhibit of lunar samples in their custody in accordance with loan agreements negotiated with the External Relations Office, JSC, as prescribed by NPD 1387.1 and NPR 1387.1.

g. Exhibits will comply with the criteria in NPR 1387.1 and NPD 2081.

6. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

None.

7. MEASUREMENT/VERIFICATION

a. The JSC External Relations Office will:

(1) Obtain information and measure metrics regarding the Lunar Sample Public Display Loan Program and provide an annual report to the Director for Public and Stakeholder Engagement Division, Office of Communications, NASA Headquarters. Information should include locations, number of visitors, and any other aspects on how effective the sample was within context of the exhibit and within context of the institution's overall outreach efforts. The annual submission will include any steps taken to improve the loan process and services based on the metrics, as prescribed by NPD 1387.1 and NPR 1387.1.

(2) Maintain a tracking system of long-term lunar sample display loans to manage expiring loans and conduct an annual inventory.

b. The JSC Astromaterials Acquisition and Curation Office will provide an annual report of use and pertinent education statistics to the Science Mission Directorate Planetary Science Division regarding the Apollo Lunar Sample Education Disk Program.

c. The Public and Stakeholder Engagement Division, Office of Communications, NASA Headquarters, will periodically review JSC overall performance, and an assessment will be conducted at NASA Headquarters to determine if additional data collection is required. If so, new requirements would be discussed and mutually agreed upon by both Headquarters and the JSC External Relations Office prior to implementation.

8. CANCELLATION

NPD 1387.2G, Use, Control, and Loan of Lunar Samples for Public and Educational Purposes, dated January 18, 2012.

/s/ Jim Bridenstine Administrator



ATTACHMENT A: (TEXT)

Apollo lunar samples - Natural materials (e.g., rocks, soil, glass) returned from the Moon by the Apollo program, either in their original condition or as modified by subsequent physical or chemical treatment. Apollo Lunar Sample Educational Disk Program - Small amounts of Apollo lunar samples encased in lucite to illustrate different lunar soils, minerals, and rocks.

Long-term display - Fixed display of Apollo lunar samples established in one location for a specified period in excess of one year.

Short-term display - Temporary display of Apollo lunar samples for a specific activity. Such display periods normally range from a few days to several weeks, not to exceed one year.

(URL for Graphic)

None.



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