[Rockhounds] Moon Rocks for Sale

[Kitty]

In 1969 Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong brought rocks back from the moon, 
and President Nixon presented one moon rock to the 50 governors of each 
of the states.  What the governors did with the moon rocks, was up to them.

Here's a link to an article about a man who is trying to find all 50 of 
the rocks that were given to the state governors, followed by one on 
Wikipedia about missing moon rocks.  On the Wikipedia one, take a look 
at the section titled "Theft of NASA rocks" and you'll read about our 
own Axel Emmermann who was instrumental in getting back the stolen NASA 
moon rocks in 2002  (I don't think the article gives enough credit to 
Axel !).

https://www.npr.org/2018/09/22/650698261/retired-nasa-agent-aims-to-account-for-all-50-moon-rocks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_and_missing_Moon_rocks

Aloha, Kitty


On 10/31/2018 4:29 AM, larryrush at att.net wrote:

> With this interesting theme of Moon Rocks, I guess it's time I told my
> little story as well....
>
> Some years ago, I was approached by an individual (let's call him Ed) who
> wanted me to verify that the rock in his possession was indeed a moon rock.
> Intrigued, I invited him to my house, with his prized possession. He
> explained that a close relative was employed by NASA and was an officially
> close and personal supporter for the astronauts.
> Indeed, he produced strong evidence to that effect. (I have to be a bit
> vague in this whole essay, since I am still leery of the liabilities for
> him, and me).
>
> It seems the astronaut gave this rock to Ed's close relative as a gift
> before leaving NASA. The relative bequeathed it to Ed., telling him it was a
> moon rock.
> I certainly was not any kind of expert on lunar rocks, and after looking the
> piece over for quite a while, and doing what basic tests I could , proved
> that point to him and myself!
> But, my background in Petrology was enough to make me curious, as this rock,
> like many terrestrial ones, had features that could have been lunar in
> nature.
> I tried to do some research on that flight, where it landed, and the rocks
> there, but that was not very helpful.
>
> I took some photos, and after more conversation, I told him that I didn't
> know where it came from, but it  possibly came from an area in the US where
> the astronauts had been training.
> Mostly, I tried to convince Ed that the security surrounding lunar material
> would certainly make it very difficult for anyone to steal a good-sized
> chunk of it. Also, it was a crime for him to have it, if it was real.
> At about that time, I got a bit nervous myself, even to be a witness  or to
> be involved in a possible federal crime. I could have referred him to a
> Yale University prof. nearby, but didn't want to get in any deeper than I
> already was.
>
> I didn't want to incriminate him (or me!), so he left with not much help
> from me. I resolved to forget the whole episode, and not to repeat it to
> anyone, until now.
> I have never heard from him again, and haven't heard of any new stealing
> news, and the astronaut is dead, so I think it's safe to assume that Ed got
> the message, and stored his "Moon Rock" away, along with his interesting
> story!
> It might make a good story for his grand-children, but I'm sure it would be
> fiction!
>
>
> Larry Rush
>