Moon Rock, Lunar Sample 12047

NMD_MoonRock

Astronauts aboard the Apollo missions explored the Moon’s surface collecting lunar rocks, core samples, pebbles, sand, and dust. During Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin spent 2 ½ hours collecting samples and taking photographs.

  • Pete Conrad, the third man on the Moon, collected this Moon rock. 
  • The Moon rock is Ilmenite basalt, also known as titanium iron-oxide, and it can be found on Earth.
  • Because the Moon rock is a titanium ore, it might one day prove useful in constructing a lunar base.  
  • All Moon rocks are carefully accounted for and reside in the Lunar Curatorial Facility in Houston, TX unless they are on loan to scientists and other institutions, like us.

It is on view in our APOLLO exhibition.

The Moon Rock Lunar Sample 12047 and other Moon artifacts share the story of scientific achievements and what we can accomplish together - all at your Museum of Flight!

With your help we can inspire the next generation of space explorers headed back to the Moon! You make our world-class education programs, special events for the whole family, and awe-inspiring exhibits of aircraft and spacecraft possible.

Support your Museum of Flight, the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world! 

 

The Moon rock may be your favorite, but you can still check out our other Moon artifacts! See More >