A rare selection of lunar rocks and meteorites collected on Apollo missions visited King Edward’s School this November.
This year celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing. Six Apollo missions landed on the Moon between 1969 and 1972, returning a number of samples to Earth of lunar rocks and soil for further study.
As part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) ‘Borrow the Moon’ scheme, staff and pupils got the opportunity to get their hands on real pieces of space.
Amongst the specimens on loan to the School were an Apollo lunar disk containing rock and soil samples collected by Apollo astronauts, a large iron meteorite from Argentina whose historical records date back to the 16th century, and a small Martian meteorite from the surface of the red planet.
Rebecca Froggatt, Head of Physics at King Edward’s School, said: “Boys and staff were excited to view these specimens and had the opportunity to do so during lessons and a lunchtime drop-in session. Some members of staff could remember the Moon landings from their own childhood and were particularly keen to see the fruits of these endeavours.”
