Science
Related: About this forumWhy Scientists Waited 50 Years to Study This Moon Dust
This Christmas season, researchers will finally get to unseal the contents of a soil sample from the Apollo 17 mission
Elizabeth Gamillo
Daily Correspondent
December 22, 2021
The high-tech gadget dubbed the Apollo can opener was designed to pierce the vacuum-sealed cylinder while capturing any lunar gases that may still lurk within its walls. ANGSA Science Team
When NASAs historic Apollo program launched in the 1960s, it resulted in six space flights to Earths natural satellite, the moon. These missions had grand resultsfrom putting the first person on the moon in 1969 aboard Apollo 11 to 2,200 collected lunar samples in total.
The original Apollo researchers had the foresight to know that future scientists would have more advanced tools to study the samples and made sure to set some aside for later analysis. Though some of the lunar samples have been opened, but otherscalled the Pristine Apollo Samplesremain untouched and have yet to be examined.
During the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, astronaut Gene Cernan extracted a core sample of lunar soil using a 28-inch-long cylindrical tube that he pounded into the moon's Taurus-Littrow Valley, reports George Dvorsky for Gizmodo. Soon after its collection, the sample was sealed inside a vacuum-tight container while Cernan was still on the moon. Upon the canisters arrival to Earth, it was placed inside another vacuum chamber where it sat untouched for nearly 50 years. The sample, known as the 73001 Apollo sample container, is now set to be opened by researchers using a device designed by the European Space Agency (ESA). The effort is the first time the ESA will examine samples returned from the moon.
The high-tech gadgetcheekily nicknamed the "Apollo can opener"was designed to pierce the vacuum-sealed cylinder while capturing any lunar gases that may still lurk within its walls, reports Benjamin Taub for IFL Science. By analyzing the lunar gases, which could consist of hydrogen, helium, or other gases, scientists will further understand the moons geology. These experiments could help engineers design more efficient and effective sampling tools and techniques for future missions to the moon or Mars, per a statement.
More:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-lunar-sample-from-the-apollo-17-mission-will-finally-be-opened-180979280/
JoeOtterbein
(7,702 posts)...Wow!
Response to JoeOtterbein (Reply #1)
Judi Lynn This message was self-deleted by its author.
Judi Lynn
(160,610 posts)🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
Response to Judi Lynn (Original post)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
Judi Lynn
(160,610 posts)Fascinating seeing his walking efforts.
🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄
LunaSea
(2,895 posts)Transcripts, audio, video, and even anaglyph 3d imagery of all the missions.
https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/
Judi Lynn
(160,610 posts)Had no idea anything like this existed.
It will be getting a lot of visits after people see your link, people who will want to share it right away!
Thank you, LunaSea. So much more has been revealed than anyone would have guessed!
Igel
(35,353 posts)So lacking these days.
To think that they said, "Wait--let's set this aside because we're not the end-all and be-all of human science and technology" is quite impressive.
I find it difficult, at my current level of cynicism, to think that anybody would give up a chance at a publishable paper or conference talk to actually advance knowledge.