Prompt Cast
The Controversy and Mystery Surrounding Moon Rocks
TLDR Moon rocks, brought back to Earth through various means, provide valuable insights into the Moon's composition and formation. While most Moon rocks are stored and protected, some have gone missing and there are rumors of them being sold on the black market.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Moon rocks, which have been the subject of controversies and mysteries, have been brought back to Earth through various means including meteorites and human missions, providing valuable insights into the composition and formation of the Moon.
02:03
The Apollo program brought back a total of 381 kg of Moon rock, which is the largest amount on Earth, and these rocks are mainly igneous in nature due to the Moon's geology.
03:43
Moon rocks collected by the Apollo missions are stored in nitrogen gas, rarely touched by humans, and are the property of the United States government, with the exception of small samples called Goodwill Moon rocks that were given as gifts to all 50 states, 135 countries, and the United Nations.
05:22
Moon rocks, including the Children of the World Rock or Goodwill Rock, were broken up and given as gifts in 1973, and while NASA officially considers them invaluable and illegal to sell, they have been estimated to be worth about $674,000 per gram, making them one of the rarest and most valuable substances on Earth.
07:21
Many of the Goodwill Moon rocks given out by NASA in 1973 have disappeared, with rumors of them being sold on the black market, and in 1998 a sting operation was launched to catch people selling fake Moon rocks, resulting in the recovery of the Goodwill Moon rock given to Honduras.
09:06
The rest of the Goodwill Moon Rocks given out by NASA in 1973 are still missing, but there is a Touch Rock in the lobby of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. where visitors can see and touch an actual Moon Rock.
10:48
The future supply of Moon Rocks might explode and the price of Moon Rocks might drop dramatically, possibly making them cheap enough for individuals to buy.
