ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel SmarterEveryDay Where does NASA keep the Moon Rocks? – Smarter Every Day 220
Welcome to an exciting exploration of NASA’s Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility, where the moon rocks brought back by the Apollo missions are carefully preserved and studied. Join Destin from Smarter Every Day as he takes us on a fascinating journey into this unique facility at the Johnson Space Center.
Destin starts his adventure by visiting the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility, a place that brings him as close to the moon as possible without leaving Earth. This facility is where the moon rocks collected during the Apollo missions are stored, processed, and distributed to museums and universities for research.
When astronauts landed on the moon, one of their primary tasks was to collect moon rocks. Contrary to what one might think, this wasn’t a quick task. The astronauts had to carefully select and collect specific rocks to ensure they could be studied for decades to come.
Upon entering the facility, Destin and his team must undergo a thorough cleaning process to ensure no outside particles contaminate the clean room environment. The rooms are pressurized, allowing clean air to flow outwards and keep dirt from entering.
Destin meets Andrea, the director of the facility, who has been working with moon rocks for 39 years. She explains the meticulous process of handling these precious samples. The moon rocks are only touched with tools made of Teflon, aluminum, or stainless steel to prevent contamination.
The lab houses samples from six Apollo missions (11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17) that took place between 1969 and 1972. In total, these missions brought back 842 pounds (382 kilograms) of moon rocks. The samples are stored in nitrogen-filled cabinets to keep them safe and uncontaminated.
Each moon rock is carefully indexed and stored. Andrea shows Destin a sample from Apollo 17, which has been divided into 89 pieces for study. The facility also serves as a staging area for distributing lunar material to academic institutions for research.
The pristine sample vault contains all the major moon rocks, organized by mission. To ensure their safety, 15% of the samples are stored at a remote location in case of an emergency at the Johnson Space Center. Each sample has a security seal and is documented in a detailed database with photographic records.
Destin expresses his gratitude to Andrea and the Johnson Space Center team for allowing him to explore this incredible facility. The experience highlights the importance of preserving and studying these lunar treasures to enhance our understanding of the moon and our solar system.
Thank you for joining this journey into the world of moon rocks. If you’re interested in learning more, consider subscribing to Smarter Every Day for more educational content.
Embark on a virtual tour of NASA’s Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility. Explore the clean rooms, storage areas, and learn about the processes involved in preserving moon rocks. This activity will help you visualize the facility’s layout and understand the importance of maintaining a contaminant-free environment.
Participate in a hands-on workshop where you will learn about the tools and techniques used to handle moon rocks. Discover why materials like Teflon, aluminum, and stainless steel are chosen for this task. This will give you practical insights into the meticulous care required in handling extraterrestrial samples.
Engage in a research project where you will investigate the scientific significance of moon rocks. Analyze how these samples have contributed to our understanding of the moon’s geology and history. Present your findings in a report or presentation to deepen your knowledge and share insights with peers.
Simulate the security and preservation protocols used at the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility. Develop a plan to protect and document lunar samples, considering factors like environmental control and emergency preparedness. This exercise will enhance your understanding of the challenges in safeguarding valuable scientific materials.
Conduct an interview with a scientist who has worked with lunar samples. Prepare questions about their experiences, challenges, and the impact of their research. This activity will provide you with firsthand insights into the world of lunar science and the dedication required to study these celestial artifacts.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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**[Destin]** What is this?
**[Andrea]** Apollo 11, the first mission.
**[Destin]** This is Apollo 11?
**[Andrea]** Yes, these are the samples brought back from the Apollo 11 mission.
**[Destin]** Is it still awesome for you?
**[Andrea]** It’s awesome, yes.
**[Destin]** That’s amazing.
Hey, it’s me Destin, welcome back to Smarter Every Day. I’ve always wanted to do this intro. Four years ago, I had the tremendous opportunity of going to Johnson Space Center to the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility. Basically, it’s as close as you can get to going to the moon on Earth.
When the astronauts got off the lander, one of their main jobs was to collect rocks. I always thought they would just gather these rocks quickly because they had a limited amount of time, but no. They had to approach specific rocks in a specific way to capture them for study decades later.
Today on Smarter Every Day, we’re going to the facility where they keep the moon rocks, process them, cut them up, and give some pieces to museums and universities. It is an awesome facility. We’re going to meet one of my favorite people on the planet: Andrea, the director of the facility.
Hey, it’s me Destin, welcome back to Smarter Every Day. We are at Johnson Space Center, and we are about to see real moon rocks. But first, we have to get the camera cleaned off.
**[Woman]** To get any outside particles or dirt off. You’re going into a clean room.
**[Destin]** Got it, so we’re going to suit up.
**[Woman]** Yes, sir.
As we go back, it gets progressively cleaner. The rooms are pressurized so that clean air flows outwards, preventing dirt from entering.
**[Destin]** I hope I don’t have to use the restroom during this.
**[Woman]** I hope you do!
So you’re one of the few people in the world who gets to work with moon rocks daily?
**[Andrea]** Yes, we have a special group here, and that’s our task.
**[Destin]** Is it pretty cool?
**[Andrea]** Yes, every day we work with moon rocks.
**[Destin]** How long have you been doing this?
**[Andrea]** I’ve been doing this for 39 years.
**[Destin]** That’s amazing!
We’re going to go into our air shower, and we stay in there for one minute. It’s laminar flow, so the less clean area and the clean area are separated.
**[Destin]** You have no idea how much I like laminar flow.
**[Andrea]** Then you really love it?
**[Destin]** I do!
Only four can go in here at a time.
**[Andrea]** Watch your step down.
**[Destin]** I’m watching it.
We’re in our Pristine Sample Lab. There were six missions that went to the moon from 1969 to 1972, bringing back 842 pounds of moon rocks, which is 382 kilograms. Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 samples are curated here in this laboratory.
In these nitrogen-filled cabinets, we keep the samples safe.
**[Destin]** So you only touch the moon rocks with tools that you’re holding with gloves, right?
**[Andrea]** Yes, if the moon rocks are open, we only touch them with Teflon, aluminum, or stainless steel tools.
**[Destin]** That’s amazing.
**[Andrea]** Gloves over the gloves.
**[Destin]** Wow.
You’re controlling the materials that actually touch the moon rocks.
**[Andrea]** Exactly.
**[Destin]** So even if they see that material on the sample when they’re analyzing it, they just subtract it out because they know what you’re using.
**[Andrea]** Yes.
**[Destin]** Got it.
**[Andrea]** This is Apollo 17’s sample, and it has been broken into 89 pieces.
**[Destin]** This is how they’re indexed?
**[Andrea]** Yes, and this is how they’re packaged for storage.
**[Destin]** Is it heavy?
**[Andrea]** Yes, it is.
**[Destin]** That’s amazing!
This lab serves as a staging area. NASA uses it to provide lunar material to academia for study.
**[Destin]** This is the pristine sample vault?
**[Andrea]** Yes, all the samples are stored in nitrogen cabinets, organized by mission.
**[Destin]** So all the major moon rocks in the world are in this room?
**[Andrea]** Yes, starting with Apollo 11 over in the corner.
**[Destin]** That’s crazy!
**[Andrea]** We have 15% of the samples stored in a remote location just in case Johnson Space Center was destroyed.
**[Destin]** Got it.
Each sample has a security seal, and we have a database with every sample’s details.
**[Destin]** Wow, that’s crazy!
**[Andrea]** Yes, we have a photographic index of all of these.
**[Destin]** That’s amazing!
**[Andrea]** This is an Apollo 11 soil sample. You can hold this.
**[Destin]** I would love to hold that!
Thank you for all your time, ladies. It was amazing.
I’m Destin, you’re getting Smarter Every Day. Have a good one!
A huge thank you to Johnson Space Center for letting me go into the facility where they store the moon rocks. Thank you, Gordon and Andrea. Also, thanks to the US Space and Rocket Center for letting me film.
If you want to, you can subscribe to Smarter Every Day or check out videos from our friends.
I’m Destin, you’re getting Smarter Every Day. Have a good one!
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a respectful tone throughout the transcript.
Moon – The natural satellite of the Earth, visible by reflected light from the sun, and a subject of astronomical study. – The moon’s gravitational influence is a key factor in the occurrence of tides on Earth.
Rocks – Solid mineral material forming part of the surface of the Earth and other similar planets, often studied to understand planetary formation. – Scientists analyze rocks from the moon to gain insights into its geological history.
Lunar – Relating to the moon. – The lunar surface is covered with a layer of fine dust and rocky debris known as regolith.
Samples – Specimens taken for scientific analysis to understand the composition and properties of a material or environment. – The Apollo missions returned with lunar samples that have been crucial for research in planetary science.
Facility – A place, amenity, or piece of equipment provided for a particular purpose, often used in scientific contexts for research and experimentation. – The new research facility is equipped with advanced telescopes for astronomical observations.
Astronauts – Individuals trained to travel and perform tasks in space, often involved in scientific experiments and exploration missions. – Astronauts aboard the International Space Station conduct experiments that cannot be performed on Earth.
Missions – Planned operations or expeditions, often involving space travel, with specific scientific objectives. – The Mars rover missions have provided valuable data about the planet’s surface and atmosphere.
Research – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions, often conducted in scientific fields. – Ongoing research in astrophysics seeks to understand the fundamental nature of dark matter.
Contamination – The presence of an unwanted substance that can affect the purity or integrity of a sample or environment, often a concern in scientific experiments. – Preventing contamination of lunar samples is crucial to ensure accurate scientific analysis.
Preservation – The act of maintaining something in its original or existing state, often applied to scientific samples to prevent degradation. – The preservation of ancient meteorites provides valuable information about the early solar system.
