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Moon rocks on Earth come from four sources: those collected by six United States Apollo program crewed lunar landings from 1969 to 1972; those collected by three Soviet uncrewed Luna probes in the 1970s; those colle… See more
DatingRocks from the Moon have been measured by radiometric dating techniques. They range in age from about 3.16 billion years old for the basaltic samples derived from the lunar maria, up to about 4.44 billion years old for rock… See more
- Moon rock exploration has been conducted through various missions:
- Apollo program: American astronauts collected 382 kilograms (842 pounds) of rock and soil during the Apollo missions from 1969 to 197212.
- Soviet Luna probes: Uncrewed Soviet probes also collected moon rocks in the 1970s1.
- Chinese Lunar Exploration Program: China's uncrewed probes have contributed to moon rock exploration1.
- Lunar meteorites: Some moon rocks naturally ejected from the lunar surface have fallen to Earth as lunar meteorites1.
- Recent study: Researchers analyzed a moon rock collected during Apollo 17 and discovered patterns that challenge previous understanding of lunar evolution3.
Learn more:✕This summary was generated using AI based on multiple online sources. To view the original source information, use the "Learn more" links.Moon rocks on Earth come from four sources: those collected by six United States Apollo program crewed lunar landings from 1969 to 1972; those collected by three Soviet uncrewed Luna probes in the 1970s; those collected by the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program 's uncrewed probes; and rocks that were ejected naturally from the lunar surface before falling to Earth as lunar meteorites.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_rockDuring the Apollo missions of 1969–1972, 12 American astronauts walked on the Moon and used a Lunar Roving Vehicle to travel on the surface and extend their studies of soil mechanics, meteoroids, lunar ranging, magnetic fields, and solar wind. The Apollo astronauts brought back 382 kilograms (842 pounds) of rock and soil to Earth for study.science.nasa.gov/moon/exploration/In a new study, researchers examined a moon rock collected by astronauts during Apollo 17. By measuring the composition of the rock, designated "troctolite 76535," scientists have found patterns that point to a 20-million-year cooling period during the moon's history, defying previous understanding of lunar evolution.www.space.com/apollo-17-moon-sample-lunar-evo… Trump administration removes Apollo …
2 days ago · This Apollo 17 moon rock, NASA sample no. 76015,143, on display in the Oval Office at The White House from 2021 to 2025. (Image credit: NASA) Whether the moon rock's …
History of Lunar Exploration - NASA Science
Sep 27, 2017 · With the shocking launch of Sputnik 1 in October 1957, the Moon changed from a distant silver disk in the sky to a real place, a probable destination for probes and people. The …
Moon - Rocks, Soil, Craters | Britannica
Jan 25, 2025 · The chemical and mineral properties of lunar rocks and soils hold clues to the Moon’s history, and the study of lunar samples has become an extensive field of science.
Why Would We Want to Bring Moon Rocks Back to Earth?
Oct 29, 2024 · Moon rocks, brought back to Earth by NASA's Apollo missions and China's Chang’e probes, are far more than ordinary space debris. These samples hold invaluable …
Moon Exploration - NASA Science
6 days ago · While the Moon has always been an object of wonder and scientific interest to humanity, lunar exploration began in earnest in the 1950s, with the United States and the USSR developing and launching robotic spacecraft. In …
Grand canyons on the Moon - Nature Communications
2 days ago · A global lunar landing site analysis 1 found that the Schrödinger impact basin 2 is the best location for addressing National Research Council science objectives for lunar exploration 3 ...
Research sheds new light on Moon rock formation solving major …
Jan 15, 2024 · New research has cracked a vital process in the creation of a unique rock type from the Moon. The discovery explains its signature composition and very presence on the …
Astromaterials 3D: Moon Rocks - NASA Science
Dec 7, 2022 · Have you ever wanted to hold a rock from the Moon in your hand? Now you can, virtually! Astromaterials 3D is an interactive online library of research-grade 3D models of select samples from NASA’s Apollo Lunar and …
Grand Canyons on the Moon Were Made in …
1 day ago · Two canyons near the south pole of the moon rival the Grand Canyon, both in depth and length. Unlike the sinuous chasm in Arizona, the two lunar canyons, known as Vallis …
