Lunar Samples
Apollo Samples
Pictures and descriptions of rocks and soil collected by Apollo astronauts on the lunar surface and returned to Earth.
Luna Samples
Pictures and descriptions of rocks and soil retrieved by Luna sample return missions.
Overviews of Apollo samples are available through the links along the right margin.
Photographs of lunar samples are available in LPI’s Lunar Sample Atlas. This library of images provides pictures of the Apollo samples taken in the Lunar Sample Laboratory, full-color views of the samples in microscopic thin-sections, cutting views and diagrams that illustrate how the samples were subdivided for scientific analyses, and in situ views of the samples on the lunar surface. The atlas contains information about the type of sample (e.g., rock, soil), the lithology (e.g., basalt, norite), and a description of the sample. Links to additional information about each sample are provided for those that have been previously described in The Lunar Sample Compendium and Lunar Sample Catalogs. Version 1 of the atlas is being released in August 2009. The process of scanning lunar sample images continues and the atlas will grow in the future.
Detailed descriptions of several samples are available courtesy of the Lunar Sample Curator’s office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The information was compiled by Charles Meyer in The Lunar Sample Compendium. Links to specific Apollo and Luna samples in Meyer’s compendium are also provided below in several different categories.
Lunar Samples by Category
PLUTONICLunar plutonic rocks are coarsely crystalline |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15362 | 15415 | 15445 | 15455 | 60015 | 60025 |
| 60055 | 600215 | 60515 | 60516 | 60517 | 60518 |
| 60519 | 60525 | 60526 | 60618 | 60619 | 60629 |
| 60639 | 60665 | 62236 | 62237 | 62275 | 65315 |
| 65325 | 65326 | 65327 | 65785 | 65789 | 67075 |
| 67415 | 67529 | 67635 | 67636 | 67637 | 67667 |
| 67746 | 67955 | 68035 | 68515 | 69955 | 72415 |
| 72559 | 73235 | 73255 | 76335 | 76535 | 76536 |
| 77075 | 77215 | 78235 | 78236 | 78238 | 78255 |
COREA total of 54 feet of core samples has been |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10004 | 10005 | 12026 | 12027 | 12028 | 14210 |
| 14211 | 14220 | 14230 | 15007 | 15009 | 15010 |
| 60010 | 60014 | 64002 | 68001 | 68002 | 69001 |
| 70009 | 70012 | 73001 | 74002 | 76001 | 79002 |
| A15drill | A16drill | A17drill | Drillcore | Drive_tubes | Hardware |
| Luna16 Core | Luna20 Core | Luna24 Core | |||
SCRThese samples were used for depth-profile |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10017 | 12002 | 12054 | 14310 | 64455 | 68815 |
| 74275 | 79215 | A15drill | |||
THIN SECTIONSThese samples are the ones included in the |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12002 | 12005 | 14305 | 15299 | 60025 | 65015 |
| 70017 | 70180 | 72275 | 74220 | 75061 | 75081 |
| 78235 | |||||
DISPLAYAbout 70 lunar samples are on public display around the world, including: |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10017 | 10020 | 10045 | 10047 | 10057 | 10072 |
| 12006 | 12018 | 12022 | 12047 | 12053 | 12055 |
| 12065 | 14305 | 14310 | 14311 | 14321 | 15015 |
| 15016 | 15058 | 15075 | 15459 | 15499 | 15555 |
| 15616 | 60015 | 60016 | 60025 | 61016 | 66075 |
| 67016 | 67455 | 67915 | 70017 | 70035 | 70215 |
| 72275 | 74255 | 75015 | 76015 | 76055 | 77035 |
| 79155 | |||||
APOLLO 11These samples were collected during the Apollo 11 mission. |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10003 | 10004 | 10005 | 10010 | 10017 | 10020 |
| 10022 | 10024 | 10029 | 10031 | 10032 | 10044 |
| 10045 | 10046 | 10047 | 10048 | 10049 | 10050 |
| 10057 | 10058 | 10060 | 10062 | 10063 | 10065 |
| 10068 | 10069 | 10071 | 10072 | 10084 | 10085 |
| 10086 | 10092 | ||||
APOLLO 12These samples were collected during the Apollo 12 mission. |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12002 | 12004 | 12005 | 12006 | 12007 | 12008 |
| 12009 | 12010 | 12011 | 12012 | 12013 | 12014 |
| 12015 | 12016 | 12017 | 12018 | 12019 | 12020 |
| 12021 | 12022 | 12027 | 12031 | 12034 | 12035 |
| 12036 | 12038 | 12039 | 12040 | 12043 | 12045 |
| 12046 | 12047 | 12051 | 12052 | 12053 | 12054 |
| 12055 | 12056 | 12061 | 12062 | 12063 | 12064 |
| 12065 | 12072 | 12073 | 12075 | 12076 | 12077 |
APOLLO 14These samples were collected during the Apollo 14 mission. |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14053 | 14071 | 14076 | 14141 | 14148 | 14149 |
| 14156 | 14163 | 14210 | 14211 | 14220 | 14230 |
| 14240 | 14259 | 14301 | 14303 | 14304 | 14305 |
| 14306 | 14310 | 14311 | 14321 | 14425 | |
APOLLO 15These samples were collected during the Apollo 15 mission. |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15007 | 15009 | 15010 | 15012 | 15013 | 15014 |
| 15015 | 15016 | 15020 | 15030 | 15040 | 15058 |
| 15059 | 15065 | 15071 | 15075 | 15076 | 15081 |
| 15085 | 15091 | 15100 | 15105 | 15115 | 15116 |
| 15117 | 15118 | 15119 | 15125 | 15201 | 15205 |
| 15206 | 15211 | 15231 | 15241 | 15251 | 15256 |
| 15260 | 15261 | 15271 | 15291 | 15295 | 15298 |
| 15299 | 15301 | 15307 | 15308 | 15311 | 15356 |
| 15357 | 15359 | 15362 | 15379 | 15380 | 15382 |
| 15385 | 15386 | 15387 | 15388 | 15401 | 15405 |
| 15410 | 15415 | 15418 | 15420 | 15425 | 15431 |
| 15435 | 15436 | 15445 | 15455 | 15459 | 15471 |
| 15475 | 15476 | 15485 | 15486 | 15495 | 15499 |
| 15501 | 15511 | 15529 | 15531 | 15535 | 15536 |
| 15545 | 15546 | 15547 | 15555 | 15556 | 15557 |
| 15565 | 15595 | 15596 | 15597 | 15598 | 15601 |
| 15605 | 15606 | 15607 | 15608 | 15610 | 15614 |
| 15616 | 15620 | 15622 | 15623 | 15630 | 15633 |
| 15634 | 15639 | 15641 | 15643 | 15647 | 15648 |
| 15649 | 15651 | 15658 | 15659 | 15661 | 15662 |
| 15663 | 15665 | 15666 | 15669 | 15659 | 15674 |
| 15675 | 15676 | 15678 | 15682 | 15683 | 15695 |
| 15696 | 15697 | A15 Drill | |||
APOLLO 16These samples were collected during the Apollo 16 mission. |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60010 | 60014 | 60015 | 60016 | 60017 | 60019 |
| 60025 | 60035 | 60050 | 60055 | 60095 | 60135 |
| 60235 | 60255 | 60275 | 60315 | 60335 | 60500 |
| 60600 | 60615 | 60618 | 60619 | 60625 | 60639 |
| 60665 | 61015 | 61016 | 61135 | 61175 | 61221 |
| 61181 | 61195 | 61220 | 61240 | 61281 | 61295 |
| 61500 | 62231 | 62235 | 62236 | 62237 | 62255 |
| 62275 | 62281 | 62295 | 63320 | 63335 | 63340 |
| 63355 | 63501 | 63549 | 63596 | 64002 | 64420 |
| 64425 | 64435 | 64455 | 64475 | 64501 | 64535 |
| 64568 | 64576 | 64801 | 65015 | 65016 | 65035 |
| 65055 | 65095 | 65315 | 65325 | 65501 | 65701 |
| 65785 | 65901 | 66031 | 66035 | 66041 | 66055 |
| 66075 | 66095 | 67016 | 67075 | 67095 | 67455 |
| 67635 | 67636 | 67637 | 67667 | 67915 | 67935 |
| 67940 | 67955 | 67975 | 68002 | 68415 | 68815 |
| 69920 | 69935 | 69945 | 69955 | A16drill | |
APOLLO 17These samples were collected during the Apollo 17 mission. |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70009 | 70011 | 70017 | 70035 | 70050 | 70060 |
| 70135 | 70161 | 70170 | 70180 | 70181 | 70215 |
| 70255 | 70271 | 70311 | 71035 | 71036 | 71037 |
| 71041 | 71055 | 71131 | 71500 | 72131 | 72150 |
| 72161 | 72215 | 72221 | 72235 | 72255 | 72270 |
| 72275 | 72315 | 72320 | 72335 | 72355 | 72395 |
| 72415 | 72431 | 72435 | 72441 | 72501 | 72535 |
| 72559 | 72701 | 73121 | 73131 | 73151 | 73211 |
| 73215 | 73216 | 73217 | 73221 | 73235 | 73255 |
| 73275 | 74111 | 74121 | 74220 | 74241 | 74250 |
| 74255 | 74275 | 75015 | 75035 | 75055 | 75075 |
| 75081 | 75085 | 75111 | 75121 | 76001 | 76015 |
| 76031 | 76035 | 76055 | 76121 | 76131 | 76135 |
| 76215 | 76221 | 76235 | 76240 | 76255 | 76295 |
| 76315 | 76321 | 76330 | 76501 | 76535 | 77017 |
| 77035 | 77075 | 77115 | 77135 | 77210 | 77215 |
| 77531 | 78121 | 78155 | 78221 | 78231 | 78235 |
| 78236 | 78238 | 78255 | 78421 | 78501 | 78527 |
| 79002 | 79121 | 79155 | 79170 | 79215 | 79221 |
| A17drill | |||||
LUNAThese samples were collected by the |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luna16 Core | Luna20 Core | Luna24 Core | Luna24170 | ||||
Lunar Receiving Laboratory
Lunar Receiving Laboratory Project History (2004)
NASA-CR-2004-208938, S. Mangus and W. Larsen, 76 pages.
Apollo Sample Catalogues
Apollo-11 Lunar Sample Information Catalogue (Revised 1977)
F.E. Kramer et al., JSC Publication 12522.Introduction to the Apollo Collections: Part I - Igneous Rocks (1977)
P.E. McGee et al., LPI Contribution No. 269, 101 pages.Apollo 14 Rock Samples (1978)
I.C. Carlson and W.J.A. Walton Jr., JSC Publication 14240.Introduction to the Apollo Collections: Part II – Lunar Breccias (1979)
P.E. McGee et al., 221 pages.Catalog of Apollo 16 Rocks Part 1, 60015-62315 (1980)
G. Ryder and M. D. Norman, Curatorial Branch Publication 52, JSC Publication 16904.Catalog of Apollo 16 Rocks Part 2, 63335-66095 (1980)
G. Ryder and M. D. Norman, Curatorial Branch Publication 52, JSC Publication 16904.Catalog of Apollo 16 Rocks Part 3, 67015-69965 (1980)
G. Ryder and M. D. Norman, Curatorial Branch Publication 52, JSC Publication 16904.Regolith Breccia Workbook (1983)
By R. M. Fruland, Planetary Materials Branch Publication 66, JSC
Publication 19045, 269 pagesHandbook of Lunar Soils (1983)
R. V. Morris et al., Planetary Materials Branch Publication 67, JSC Publication 19069.Catalog of Apollo 15 Rocks Part 1. 15015-15299 (1985)
G. Ryder, Curatorial Branch Publication 72, JSC Publication 20787.Catalog of Apollo 15 Rocks Part 2. 15306-15468 (1985)
G. Ryder, Curatorial Branch Publication 72, JSC Publication 20787.Catalog of Apollo 15 Rocks Part 3. 15475-15698 (1985)
G. Ryder, Curatorial Branch Publication 72, JSC Publication 20787.Catalog of Apollo 17 Rocks Volume 1 - Stations 2 and 3 (South Massif)
Ryder, G., JSC-26088Catalog of Apollo 17 Rocks Volume 2 - Central Valley, Part 1
Neal, C. R. and L. A. Taylor, JSC-26088Catalog of Apollo 17 Rocks Volume 3 - Central Valley, Part 2
Neal, C. R. and L. A. Taylor, JSC-26088Catalog of Apollo 17 Rocks Volume 4 - North Massif
Meyer, C., JSC-26088
Lunar Soils Grain Size Catalog (1993)
J.C. Graf, NASA Reference Publication 1265
Front Matter
Apollo 11 soils
Apollo 12 soils
Apollo 14 soils
Apollo 15 soils
Luna 24 soils
Apollo 16 soils
Apollo 17 soils
Bibliography
To download complete volume (117 MB), click here.
Lunar Petrographic Thin Section Set
Lunar Petrographic Thin Section Set (2003)
Charles Meyer, 67 pages. (Digitized version of the booklet that accompanies the educational thin section set available from the Lunar Sample Curator’s office.)Additional images of the Lunar Petrographic Thin-Section Set
Kurt Hollocher, Union College
Lunar Simulants
Guide to Using Lunar Soil and Simulants for Experimentation (1985)
In Lunar Bases, J. H. Allton et al., 10 pages.JSC-1: A New Lunar Soil Simulant
Lunar Regolith Simulant Materials Workshop (2004)
Development of New Lunar Simulants JSC-1A and JSC-1AF (2007)
Design and Specifications for the Highland Regolith Prototype Simulants NU-LHT-1M and -2M (August 2010)
NASA TM 2010_216438Generation of Requirements for Simulant Measurements
NASA/TM-2010-216445 (update in September 2010)
This document provides a formal, logical explanation of the parameters selected for the Figure of Merit algorithm used to evaluate lunar regolith simulant. The objectives, requirements, assumptions and analysis behind the parameters is provided.Figure of Merit Characteristics Compared to Engineering Parameters
NASA/TM-2010-216443 (update in September 2010)Preliminary Geological Findings on the BP-1 Simulant
NASA/TM-2010-216444 (update in September 2010)
Future Sample Requirements
Curation of Geological Materials at a Lunar Outpost (1993)
A.H. Treiman, Office of Curator Publication #87, JSC-26194, 29 pages.Lunar EVA Sample Mass (2007)
D.A. Kring, 13 page briefing.Workshop on Architecture Issues Associated with Sampling (2007)
NASA, NP-2009-00-000-HQ, 62 pages.Analysis of Lunar Sample Mass Capability for the Lunar Exploration Architecture (2007)
Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extraterrestrial Materials (CAPTEM), 14 pages.
Lunar Sample Glossary
Glossary of Lunar Sample Terms (1974)
A.M. Reid et al., NASA Johnson Space Center, 32 pages.
