Identification Of Rock Expected

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32052, 29 July 1969, Page 13

Identification Of Rock Expected

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

HOUSTON, July 28.

Geologists at the Lunar Receiving Laboratory in Houston expect to make a tentative identification today of the first moon-rock sample taken from the two boxes brought back by the Apollo 11 astronauts, the New York Times News Service reports. The geologists said yesterday that the quarter-pound sample was “a granular igneous rock” containing shiny flakes of minerals.

Igneous rocks are those formed through volcanic activity. This, with recordings of “14 unusual seismic events” by seismometers left on the moon by the astronauts. will help to determine if there is volcanic activity on the moon.

If the new lunar data does in fact confirm the existence of volcanoes on the moon, it would destroy the idea that the moon is an inert body and lend support to the theory that the earth and the moon have a common ancestor. . . . _

The Associated Press said that the fine black moon powder found on the rocks also covered a doctor and an engineer who handled equipment

brought back to earth by the astronauts.

■ Dr William Carpentier and an engineer, Mr John Hirasaki, said that they were covered with the powder when they took medical swabbings from the suits Mr Neil Armstrong and Colonel Edwin Aldrin wore on the surface of the moon.

Dr Carpentier and Mr Hirasaki met Mr Armstrong, Colonel Aldrin and Colonel Michael Collins aboard the U.S.S. Hornet recovery ship on Thursday shortly after the Apollo spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific.

In a briefing held in the Lunar Receiving Laboratory where Dr Carpentier and Mr Hirasaki share the quarantine of the moon explorers, they said the “black powdery substance" covered them as they removed the lunar sur-

face garments from plastic bags the astronauts had stored them In while in space. “The crew had mentioned that there was lunar surface material on these items,” Mr Hirasaki said. He said that as he and Dr Carpentier worked with the items, the black powder covered them and seemed to cling. They said that it felt like talcum powder, but had a slight granularity. Mr Hirasaki also said that the astronauts came in contact with the material while they cleaned their spacecraft in space. The space agency had said earlier that a man working with moon surface film In the quarantine laboratory was the first man to touch lunar material. However, it was acknowledged last night that the first were the astronauts themselves.

Telephone Charges (N.Z.P. A.-Retact—-Copyright) HOUSTON, July 28. The three Apollo 11 astronauts will have to pay for any private telephone calls they make during their three week quarantine period. Mr John McLeash, the public information officer at the Lunar Receiving Laboratory, told a press briefing last night that Mr Neil Armstrong, Colonel Michael Collins and Colonel Edwin Aldrin each had a telephone in his bedroom. In answer to a question, he said that if an astronaut made a call which was concerned with official business he would not be charged for it But if the call was for private business the astronauts would have to pay.