NASA has blocked a Boston auction company from selling lunar dust collected during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission and the remains of cockroaches that scientists used for subsequent experiments, and returned the materials to NASA.
The Apollo 11 mission brought back more than 21.3 kilograms of lunar rock samples, some of which scientists fed to creatures such as insects, fish and cockroaches.
According to the auction website, the purpose of the experiment is to determine whether lunar dust contains any pathogens that may threaten life on Earth.
On May 25 this year, at the Remarkable Rarities auction organized by RR Auction House, three German cockroach corpses and 40 mg of lunar dust were auctioned, with a transaction price of US$400,000 (approximately RMB 2.67 million).
NASA lawyers reportedly stated in a letter to RR Auctions that all materials in the experiment are the property of the U.S. government.
NASA sent a letter to the auction house on June 15 stating that all Apollo samples belong to NASA and no person, university or other entity may retain them after analysis, destruction or use for any purpose, let alone sell or sell them. personal display.
The cockroaches in the auction were reportedly brought to the University of Minnesota after feeding on lunar dust, and were dissected and studied by entomologist Marion Brooks.
But instead of sending the experimental materials back to NASA, Brooks stayed home.
Brooks' daughter sold the supplies in 2010, and RR Auctions was commissioned again this year to auction off the moon dust and cockroach carcasses.
Last Thursday, RR Auctions announced it was canceling the auction but has not yet returned the items to NASA.
In a June 22 letter, NASA attorneys asked RR Auctions to work with the current owner to return the materials.
RR Auctions attorney Mark Zaid said: "We have worked with NASA before and have been working with the U.S. government when they claim ownership of items."
