New Delhi: NASA wants its cockroaches and moon dust returned from an auction company that is selling material obtained during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission. The lunar rock was fed to cockroaches in an experiment to see if it contained any pathogens that posed a threat to terrestrial life. The space agency has urged Boston-based RR Auctions to stop selling them. In a letter to the auctioneer, a NASA attorney claimed that the material still belongs to the federal government. The materials of the experiment, which included the carcasses of three cockroaches and a vial containing 40 milligrams of moon dust, were supposed to fetch at least $400,000 at auction, but have been removed, according to RR.
“All Apollo samples, as set out in this collection of items, belong to NASA and to any person, university or other entity for analysis, destruction, or for any purpose exclusively after sale or other use to the individual.” They have not been allowed to hold demonstrations,” NASA said in a letter dated June 15. (Also Read: Priyanka Chopra Launches Her Houseware Brand Sona Home)
“We are requesting that you not facilitate the sale of any and all items containing the Apollo 11 Lunar Soil Experiment (cockroaches, slides and post-destructive testing samples) by immediately halting the bidding process,” the letter said. (Also read: Markets rally for second day; Sensex, Nifty rise 1% amid strong global trends)
At another date, June 22, NASA attorneys asked RR Auctions to work with the material’s current owner, seeking their return to the federal government.
For the unversed, about 47 pounds (21.3 kg) of lunar rock was brought to Earth with the Apollo 11 mission. Part rock was fed insects, fish, and other small creatures to find out if it would kill them.
Cockroaches fed on moon dust were brought to the University of Minnesota where entomologist Marion Brooks dissected and studied them.
“I found no evidence of infectious agents,” Brooks, who died in 2007, told the Minneapolis Tribune for an October 1969 story. They found no evidence that the moonshine’s material was toxic or caused any other side effects in insects, according to the article.
But the moon rock and the cockroaches were never returned to NASA, but instead were on display at Brooks’ home. His daughter sold them in 2010, and they are now up for resale by a consignor, which RR did not disclose.
Mark Zaid, a lawyer at RR Auctions, said it is not unusual for a third party to claim something that is being auctioned.
“NASA has a track record of pursuing objects related to early space programs,” Zaid said, “though they have been inconsistent in doing so.” By its own admission, NASA admitted in one of its letters that it was not aware of previous auctions of cockroach experiment items.
“We have worked with NASA before and have always cooperated with the US government whenever they claim items,” Zaid said. “At the end of the day, we want to act fairly and legally.” RR auctions are a lot for now, but ultimately, it’s up to the consignor to do some work with NASA, he said.
–With IANS inputs.