NASA Scientists Study Lunar Samples from the Apollo Missions That Have Been Stored For 50 Years All

KOMPAS.com – United States Aeronautics and Space Administration scientists (NASA), start studying the sample Moon obtained from Apollo mission. The rock samples from the Moon’s surface were obtained by the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Upon the return of the Apollo missions from the Moon to Earth, scientists deliberately set aside the sample to be studied in the future.

A total of nine research teams were previously deployed to analyze the rocks, and soil carried by the Apollo missions.

Read also: NASA Opens Samples from the Moon Collected in 1972, Here’s the Process

While the rest Month sample it is stored, then well sealed in the refrigerator for the last decades.

In March 2022, scientists at NASA finally reopened this sample that had been collected about 50 years ago.

Reported from Science AlertWednesday (4/5/2022) NASA revealed that it took four years of preparation to transport cargo to the laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center, Maryland to collect samples of the Moon’s surface.

Natalie Curran, a scientist who studied lunar samples at Goddard, explained that some of the samples she analyzed had been frozen since 1972.

Curran explained that the team of scientists was trying to measure how long samples from the Moon’s surface were exposed to cosmic rays.

According to him, the information could help reveal how conditions on the Moon have changed over time.

“Cosmic rays can damage any organic material that may be present in the sample, so understanding the duration of exposure helps us determine their effect on organic matter,” said Curran.

He added that the lunar sample must be stored in the right conditions and locations to maintain its condition.

Thus, scientists must use walk-in-freezer at minus 20 degrees Celsius, then put their hands in it.

Read also: Preparation for the Artemis Mission, NASA Makes Anti-stray Backpack on the Moon

In addition, they also need to use gloves that have been cleaned with nitrogen.

Rock samples from the Moon can only be touched when scientists are wearing thick rubber gloves.

Through analysis of samples from the Apollo missions, NASA hopes to support the lunar probe on the Artemis mission.

“This is an important study for Artemis, as the ability to process samples in cold temperatures will be even more important for the Artemis mission than for Apollo. This study provides us with several lessons and good input for the Artemis mission,” said astromaterials researcher Ryan Zeigler.

Read also: Scientists reveal why the moon has 9,000 craters on its surface

On the other hand, a research team at Goddard’s Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory is studying whether the lunar samples contain volatile organic compounds.

This is because early studies published in the 1970s showed that some lunar rocks contain amino acids.

Given that amino acids are so essential to life as on Earth, studying this further could help scientists to understand how life originated not only on Earth, but possibly elsewhere in the Solar System.

In connection with the study, Jamie Elsila, a researcher at the Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory, suspects that amino acids on the Moon’s surface may be formed from more volatile molecules, such as formaldehyde or hydrogen cyanide.

“The aim of our study was to identify and quantify these small organic volatile compounds, as well as any amino acids, and use the data to understand the Moon’s prebiotic organic chemistry.”

Scientists at NASA will also compare the differences between frozen and unfrozen samples of the Moon.

This is done to see which preservation method is proven to be better, in the long term.

The findings can also provide a lot of information regarding the handling of lunar samples that are planned to be brought to Earth through the Artemis mission.

Read also: NASA opens first lunar soil sample after 50 years of storage

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