Illinois lunar sample displays facts for kids
The Illinois lunar sample displays are special gifts from the Moon! They are two plaques with tiny pieces of Moon rock. These rocks were brought back by astronauts during the Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 missions. In the 1970s, U.S. President Richard Nixon gave them to the people of Illinois. They were meant as gifts of friendship.
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What are the Moon Rock Displays?
The Apollo 11 Moon Rock Plaque
The Apollo 11 Moon rock display for Illinois is a special plaque. It has four tiny pieces of Moon rock. These "Moon rocks" are about the size of a grain of rice. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin collected them in 1969.
The plaque also shows a small Illinois state flag. This flag actually traveled to the Moon and back on the Apollo 11 mission! The four dark gray Moon rocks are very small. They are about 1.5 to 3 millimeters big. All four together weigh about 50 milligrams.
These tiny rocks are safely held inside a clear plastic dome. It looks like a coin. This dome is attached to a wooden board, which is about one foot square. The board stands on a small display stand. Below the Moon rocks and flag, there is a message from President Richard Nixon. It says the display is a gift to the people of Illinois. Similar Moon rock displays were given to all other U.S. states and many countries around the world.
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The Apollo 17 Moon Rock Plaque
The Illinois Apollo 17 Moon rock display is another special plaque. It measures about 10 by 14 inches. This plaque has one piece of Moon rock. This rock was cut from a larger Moon rock called lunar basalt 70017. Astronaut Harrison Schmitt collected this basalt rock on the Moon in 1972.
After the basalt 70017 rock came back to Earth, it was cut into small pieces. Each piece was about 1 gram. The piece for Illinois is held in a plastic ball. This ball is mounted on the wooden plaque. Just like the Apollo 11 display, this plaque also has an Illinois state flag. This flag also traveled to the Moon and back with the Apollo 17 crew. President Richard Nixon also gave this plaque to Illinois in the 1970s. It was another friendly gesture to encourage peace.
Where are the Illinois Moon Rocks Now?
The Journey to the Illinois State Museum
The Apollo 11 "goodwill Moon rocks" plaque was received by Illinois Governor Richard B. Ogilvie. He accepted it for all the people of Illinois. Governor Ogilvie then gave the display to the Illinois State Museum. The museum's geology curator, Richard Leary, took care of it. Today, this display is a permanent exhibit at the Illinois State Museum. You can find it near the Hall of Geology.
A Brief Disappearance and Return
Many other states reported that their "goodwill Moon rocks" displays went missing. However, both the Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 displays for Illinois stayed safe at the Illinois State Museum. They were on public display until about 1990.
After 1990, the displays were put away in a cabinet. For about 10 years, people could not see them. But during that time, they were sometimes shown at a Research and Collections Center in Springfield. They also appeared at various gem, mineral, and rock shows.
In 2010, a student from the University of Phoenix started looking for the "goodwill Moon rocks." It was part of a school assignment. Because she kept searching, the Illinois State Museum decided to put the displays back on public view that same year. Now, everyone can see these amazing pieces of the Moon!
