From the Gulf Coast to the East and West Coasts

by Linda Watts

A 117.628 g split of mare basalt 15475 is now on display in the Rose Center for Earth and Space, the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. This Apollo 15 rock was collected from the area of Dune Crater and was encased in the newly designed, gaseous nitrogen- containing display container at the Lunar Curatorial Laboratory. While on a trip to NASA Headquarters, Dr. Carlton Allen transported the display to the eagerly waiting AMNH curator.

"Great Scott" rock 15555, 879 is now on display at the Chabot Space and Science Center in the Gruener Astronomy Hall, Oakland, California. Chabot's "Moon Mission Team", a cross-section of scientists, educators, and operations personnel, has consulted with NASA-JSC's public affairs and curatorial staff to develop a close-up, well-illustrated, and secure exhibit. The 123.696 g lunar sample stands alone, in its museum case, near the entrance to the Challenger Learning Center (which offers a Mission to the Moon).

Rock 15555, 9.6 kg, was the largest Moon rock collected up to that time. Its mass was only surpassed by Apollo 16’s 11.7 kg, "Big Muley". In order to collect this mare basalt rock, Dave Scott had to create the down-on-right-knee, roll-rock-up-thigh, and hip-carry maneuver.