Nearly 50 years after Apollo 17, pristine lunar samples are set to be opened and studied by experts worldwide. Researchers anticipate trapped gases that could reshape our understanding of the Moon.
Apollo missions delivered invaluable lunar material that revolutionized our knowledge of the Moon's geology. Yet, some samples remain unopened. Mission planners during Apollo 15 (1971) and Apollo 17 (1972) wisely reserved select specimens, anticipating that future scientists would benefit from advanced instruments and deeper expertise.
One such sample, sealed for five decades, is now primed for analysis.
Collected by astronaut Gene Cernan in 1972 in the Taurus-Littrow valley, this sample involved driving a 70 cm tube into the lunar surface. The bottom half was sealed on-site, then transferred to a vacuum chamber upon Earth return. Designated sample 73001, it has remained pristine ever since.
In the coming weeks, scientists will meticulously examine it for preserved lunar gases, including hydrogen, helium, and other light volatiles. These could illuminate lunar geological processes and inform optimal preservation strategies for future extraterrestrial samples.
Under the Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis (ANGSA) program, the European Space Agency (ESA) has been tasked with safely extracting these gases—a historic first for ESA with Apollo returns.
The process entails carefully puncturing the vacuum container to release gases into a specialized collector from researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. The utmost care ensures zero Earth-based contamination. If gases are found, they will be aliquoted and shipped to global labs for detailed study.
“We’re eager to see how effectively the vacuum preserved the sample and delicate gases,” says Francesca McDonald, ESA chief scientist and project manager. “Each component could reveal unique insights into the Moon’s volatile origins and evolution.”
