Houston, we have a podcast.

Welcome to the official podcast of the NASA Johnson Space Center,

episode 137, The Untouched Apollo Samples.

I'm Gary Jordan, I'll be your host today.

On this podcast we bring in the experts, scientists, engineers, astronauts, all to let you know what's going on in the world of human spaceflight.

The Apollo missions to the Moon were truly scientifically unique.

Observing the Cosmos has always been from afar and researching materials from other planets had to be done when they were quote unquote delivered to us by way of a meteor coming through Earth's atmosphere.

During Apollo, astronauts excavated the surface of the

moon. They put them in containers and bags, all of these samples, and they returned them

here to Earth in a pristine way. something that was a first and had since not yet

been repeated.

So these samples that were brought back from the Moon are limited, very limited.

Highly solid after samples were shared, but in very small quantities,

and are highly protected.

They really still are.

Some of these were never opened,

waiting for the right time and the right technology needed

to observe them.

And that time is now.

Nearly 50 years after they were collected, Apollo samples were recently opened for observation.

So what was so special about these samples and what exactly are the technologies that were so highly anticipated for nearly half a century?

Coming on the podcast today are the very people who opened these samples. We're talking with

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