S P A C E   C E N T E R   H O U S T O N

Houston, Texas

More interesting rocks.

Here's a display that illustrates the colorful, crystaline structure of one of the lunar samples.

This display is a box full of dirt, but, not just any dirt. This is lunar dirt. Gathered from the Apollo 11 Mission, the sample is called Sample #10084. The scientists back here in Earth have analyzed it, and have determined that this particular sample is composed of the basic elements oxygen (42.0%), silicon (19.3%), iron (12.3%), calcium (8.9%), aluminum (7.3%), magnesium (4.8%), titanium (4.5%), and other (0.9%). As for the minerals, they found plagioclasa (39.5%), pyroxene (39.0%), ilmenite (14.3%), olivine (6.0%), and other (0.4%). I've never heard of any of these minerals. Truly an exotic soil this sample is.

Hey, I get to feel the Moon for a second time on my travels this year. The first time was at the Smithsonian Institute's National Air & Space Museum.