New Mexico lunar sample displays facts for kids
The New Mexico lunar sample displays are two special gifts given to the people of New Mexico. These gifts are small pieces of Moon rock! They were brought back to Earth by astronauts during the Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 missions. In the 1970s, U.S. President Richard Nixon gave these Moon rocks as "goodwill gifts" to every state.
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What Are These Moon Rocks?
The Apollo 11 Moon Rocks
The Apollo 11 Moon rock display in New Mexico is a special plaque. It has four tiny Moon rock pieces. These pieces are about the size of a grain of rice. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin collected them in 1969.
The display also includes a small New Mexico state flag. This flag actually traveled to the Moon and back on the Apollo 11 mission! The four Moon rocks weigh about 0.05 grams in total. They are held in a clear plastic button, like a coin. This button is attached to a wooden board, about one foot square. The flag is placed right below the Moon rocks. President Richard Nixon gave this display to New Mexico. Similar tiny Moon rocks were given to all 50 states.
The Apollo 17 Moon Rocks
The Apollo 17 Moon rock display for New Mexico is a plaque that measures about 10 by 14 inches. It has one piece of Moon rock. This rock was cut from a larger Moon rock called "lunar basalt 70017." Astronaut Harrison Schmitt collected this rock on the Moon in 1972.
Once the basalt Moon rock came back to Earth, it was cut into small pieces. Each piece weighed about 1 gram. The New Mexico piece is inside a clear plastic ball. This ball is attached to the wooden plaque. Just like the Apollo 11 display, this one also has a New Mexico state flag. This flag also traveled to the Moon and back with the Apollo 17 crew. President Richard Nixon gave this plaque to New Mexico in 1973. He gave similar gifts to all the other states. These gifts were meant to promote peace and friendship.
The Story Behind the Moon Rocks
The Apollo 11 Moon rock display was given to New Mexico's Governor David F. Cargo by President Richard Nixon. When a new governor, Bruce King, took office in 1971, there was a disagreement. Governor Cargo thought the Moon rock display was his to keep. Governor King believed it belonged to the people of New Mexico. He felt it should be kept in the Museum of New Mexico.
The curator (manager) of the Museum of New Mexico, Dr. George Ewing, checked White House records. These records clearly showed that the display belonged to the people of New Mexico. In fact, a label on the display says:
Presented to the people of the state of New Mexico.
Governor Cargo later said he had planned to give the Moon rocks to the Museum of New Mexico anyway. He hoped his astronaut friend James McDivitt could be there for the official handover. However, McDivitt could not make it. Finally, on November 9, 1971, Governor Cargo officially presented the Apollo 11 Moon rock display to the Museum of New Mexico. About 50 people attended the ceremony. Governor Cargo invited everyone in New Mexico, except Governor King.
Many states have reported their goodwill Moon rock displays missing over the years. However, both of New Mexico's Moon rock displays are still on exhibit! The Apollo 11 Moon rock display is at the Palace of the Governors. This is part of the Museum of New Mexico. The Apollo 17 Moon rock display is at the Roswell Museum and Art Center in Roswell, New Mexico.
