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\nThe Best Gift of All: A Box of Moon Soil\n

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\n\nPublisher:\n\nNASA\n\n\n
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\nAstrochemist Jamie Elsila, at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, unwraps pristine Moon soil. Apollo 17 astronauts collected it in 1972 by driving tubes down to 10.6 inches (27 centimeters) below the Moon’s surface...\nAstrochemist Jamie Elsila, at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, unwraps pristine Moon soil. Apollo 17 astronauts collected it in 1972 by driving tubes down to 10.6 inches (27 centimeters) below the Moon’s surface and pulling out soil that they vacuum-sealed inside the tube right on the Moon. That tube had never been opened … until recently.

In this video, Elsila and her colleague, Goddard planetary scientist Danielle Simkus, are preparing 2 grams of Moon soil, which is called regolith, for analysis in their lab, the Astrobiology Analytical Laboratory. Besides Moon soil, the scientists are also preparing lab-made Earth soil that will serve as a control in their experiments, helping increase the reliability of the results.

The soils are first crushed with a mortar and pestle and transferred to glass capsules. Then, scientists add water, flame-seal the capsules, and cook them in a special oven to extract organic compounds. Over the next few months, they will study the extracted compounds to shed light on the primordial chemistry of the solar system.

Music: \"Fairy Christmas\" from Universal Production Music

Video credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

James Tralie (ADNET):
Lead Producer
Videographer
Lead Video Editor

Lonnie Shekhtman (ADNET):
Lead Writer
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Molly Wasser (ADNET):
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Lead Social Media Support

Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET):
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Resource Details

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Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
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Media Length
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1:24
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Grade
3rd - 11th
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Subjects
All Subjects
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Media Type
Instructional Videos
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Source:
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\nNASA Goddard\n\n
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Date
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2019
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Language
English
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Audiences
For Teacher Use
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Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
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nasa
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apollo, moon, planets and moons, sample return, lab, james tralie
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