From July 1969 to December 1972, 12 American astronauts explored the lunar surface. They returned over 800 pounds of lunar material to the Earth from six different regions of the Moon.
Between 1969 and 1972, six Apollo space flight missions brought back
382 kilograms (842 pounds) of lunar rocks, core samples, pebbles, sand and dust
from the lunar surface. Have you ever wondered what it took to collect these
samples and what happened to them once they were returned to Earth? Find out
more here.
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Astromaterials
Curation Johnson Space Center - What happens to all those rock
samples brought from outer space? They are stored at this center where they are
protected, preserved, and distributed for study. These sample collections
include: lunar rocks and regolith, meteorites recovered by the U.S. in the
Antarctic, dust particles from the Stratosphere, and space-exposed surfaces
retrieved from satellites or spacecraft.
Collecting
Moon Rocks - How difficult was it for Apollo astronauts to
collect rock samples from the moon? This page has pictures of the astronauts at
work on the surface of the Moon collecting samples, as well as descriptions of
the tools that they used, procedures, and storage information.
25
Years of Curating Moon Rocks - Twenty-five years ago, rocks from
the Moon were delivered to a laboratory in Houston that was a marked contrast to
the methodical, almost serene laboratory in which the Moon rocks are curated
today. This document traces how the process of receiving and protecting the
rocks has changed since 1969.
Apollo
Missions Sampling Activities - Six Apollo missions were
responsible for collecting materials from the moon's surface and returning them
to Earth. Pictures of samples from each flight and information about the samples
are described at this website from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Astromaterials
- This resource page is from the Astromaterials Curator's website at
NASA's Johnson Space Center. Here you will find "The Curator's Coloring and
Activity Book", the Top Ten Discoveries Made During Apollo Exploration of
the Moon, along with Fact Sheets, publications, and hands-on activities.
Lunar
Prospector's Space Day Activities - This site contains 25
hands-on activites. Each activity was selected based on its science/educational
value and its relevance to the Lunar Prospector Mission. Among the titles you
will find Edible Rocks, Reaping Rocks, Moon Archeology, Lunar Landforms, and
Make a Crater.
Related Materials on Spacelink:
Educational
Services: Lunar-Meteorite Sample Loan Program - Educators must first be
certified to borrow lunar and meteorite materials by attending a training
seminar on security requirements and proper handling procedures. The same
certification applies to lunar and meteorite samples. These briefings are given
by NASA staff at locations around the country. Written requests should be sent
to the NASA Educator Resource Center (ERC) in your geographic area. Included
here is information about contacting the NASA ERC in your area. Click on the
link for the NASA Field Center Educator Resource Centers and select your state
or region.
NASA
Projects: Apollo Missions - The first photos of Earth from hundreds of
thousands of miles away were taken by the crew of Apollo 8, the first humans to
orbit the Moon. Those photos depicted Earth as a bright blue and white ball
floating in a sea of darkness. They reminded people the world over of the
fragility of planet Earth and of the need to preserve and protect its resources.
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