Before sending humans back to the Moon, scientists open a 50-year-old sample from the Moon to analyse the conditions there

When the United States led the world to the Moon's surface during the Apollo mission, it was the zenith of human space exploration. The missions were so groundbreaking that the samples returned to Earth continue to provide significant information about the lunar surface. As it prepares to launch dangerous missions to the Moon, Nasa is unlocking one final sample.

The Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, which stores and safeguards these lunar regolith and material, is set to open the final sample at the Johnson Space Center. The science team intends to obtain additional information about the surface of the Moon, its composition, and mineralogy as it plans to deploy humans back on the surface.

In a statement, Thomas Zurbuchen, assistant administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said, "Understanding the geologic history and evolution of the Moon samples at the Apollo landing sites will help us prepare for the types of samples that may be found during Artemis."

The samples had remained frozen so far as Nasa anticipated to analyse them at an opportune time. Lori Glaze, director of the Planetary Science Division, said, "The agency believed science and technology will change and allow scientists to analyse the material in new ways to address new problems in the future."

WHAT IS ANGSA 73001 LUNAR SAMPLE?

ANGSA 73001, a Lunar sample obtained from the surface by the Apollo 17 mission astronauts, is being investigated. Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt in December of 1972. The sample was created by hammering pair of connected 1.5-by-14-inch tubes into the lunar surface to gather fragments of rocks and soil from a landslide deposit in the Moon’s TaurusLittrow Valley.

Before returning to Earth, the sample was vacuum sealed on the Moon; only two drive tubes were vacuum sealed in this way on the Moon, and this is the first to be opened. Since then, the sample tube has been kept at Johnson in a protective outer vacuum tube and in an atmosphere-controlled environment.

Nasa stated that the temperature at the core's bottom was extremely low when it was recovered, implying the presence of volatiles (substances that evaporate at normal temperatures, such as water ice and carbon dioxide). The volatiles in these samples from the Moon's equatorial regions are of particular importance to the science team because they will help future scientists examining the Artemis samples better understand where and what volatiles might be present.

“Artemis hopes to return back cold and sealed samples from near the lunar South Pole. This is a fantastic learning opportunity to grasp the instruments needed for collecting and transporting these samples, for studying them, and for preserving them on Earth for future generations of scientists,” Thomas Zurbuchen remarked.