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11/14/08
11/14/08
11/14/08
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11/14/08
First, the press release doesn't say that. It says "a lunar dial based on a mineral deposit including moon dust." To me, that sounds like the dials are made of some terrestrial minerals -- i.e. a meteorite -- that contains traces of moon dust due to the rock having a lunar origin.
More importantly, though -- EVERY OUNCE of material brought back by Apollo is meticulously tracked, and doled out sparingly. NASA simply does not hand out this stuff. Save for museum samples and materials sent out for legitimate research at universities, etc., there are very, very, very few privately-held lunar samples, and most of those are small fragments given to world leaders (and some of the astronauts) encased in lucite.
So bottom line is I think this isn't an Apollo moon rock watch. If it were, it would literally be an unprecedented break from the normal treatment of moon material. I think people are supposed to think that it is, though, as you did. Don't be fooled!
11/14/08
Apollo 11 was funded by NASA. The capsule that returned should be US government property (perhaps on loan to the Smithsonian), as should be the dust. I assume that rocks and dust have been made available to external entities for research purposes, but for profit? I accept that the ISS spacesuit is a different issue...and that some ISS participants view that program as a carnival ride for the wealthy, but I do not understand how Apollo components and artifacts are part of a commercial venture.
Regardless of how this makes sense, it disheartens me.
11/14/08
From what I understand, moon rocks (and dust, I'd assume) are considered national treasures or some such thing, and unlicensed possession is illegal. I guess this company has done their research so maybe the dust is okay. As for the steel, I wonder if maybe it came from something jettisoned during launch, or even, considering that steel is heavy and probably not used much in the launch vehicle, maybe it's from the launch tower. Those have been torn down and all that remains are the concrete bases.
11/14/08
11/14/08
11/14/08