After almost 50 years since the Apollo mission has finished, the researchers are still analyzing the samples brought by the astronauts. Two untouched Moon rocks are going to be studied by the ESA scientists.
The goal of the analysis is to provide useful information regarding the evolution and formation of our natural satellite. At the moment, one of them is already undergoing some tests, while the second one is waiting for the opening time.
The program called the Apollo Next-Generation Sample Analysis is taking advantage of the cutting-edge analytical techniques to determine the properties of the rock and soil brought on the Earth by the crew from the Apollo 17 mission. The study is composed of nine expert science teams aiming to provide research on different topics on the samples.
ESA to study untouched Moon rocks
The primary focus of this research is to determine the essential characteristics of the Moon’s soil, which would improve the conditions for the upcoming Artemis mission. The Apollo 17 mission brought samples from several mountains on the surface of the Moon. They were collected after a landslip occurred, being samples that were located at an impressive height.
The opening of the last example is highly essential and this is why the scientists are now trying to develop a particular machine that would allow them to capture all the volatile gases it may contain. The most intriguing question of this study is to determine what caused the landslip, which was the movement that established it, or was it the fault of an impact.
In addition to that, it is essential to know when did this occurrence was produced or did it cause any release of gases that were trapped inside the Moon rocks. The researchers have declared that it is of the utmost importance to understand the behavior of lunar material.
