Science and Technology Facilities Council
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Sandfields students touch the Moon
Rare samples of moon rock and lunar dust landed at Sandfields Comprehensive School, Port Talbot on 29 September for a weeks visit. Meteorites of different kinds formed part of the display and students were able to handle and study them, seeing the obvious differences in the materials they are made from.
The lunar samples, provided by the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council were collected during NASA’s manned space missions to the Moon in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. During these missions the Apollo astronauts brought back to Earth 382 kilograms of lunar material. Most of this material is used by scientists to study the Moon, but NASA decided to use a small proportion of the rock and soil to develop lunar and planetary sciences educational packages.
Science and Technology Facilities Council Chief Executive, Professor Keith Mason said "It’s incredible to think, that when you hold a meteorite, you are handling something that may have travelled millions of miles to fall on the Earth. Meteorites can tell us a great deal about the places they originated from." He added "It’s amazing that almost forty years after the lunar samples were collected, scientists are still not sure how the Moon formed!"
The Council offers a free of charge, short-term loan system of the lunar samples to educational and scientific organisations within the United Kingdom.
Notes for Editors
NB: The lunar samples are irreplaceable so we ask that no coverage appear in the media until they have been returned to the Council.
The Meteorites
Meteorites are pieces of rock from space that fall to Earth. They come from a variety of places and the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s collection includes samples from the main asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars, from the Moon and even one from Mars.
Mars has fascinated people for thousands of years and in June 2003 the European Space Agency launched Mars Express, a mission to study the Red Planet in detail, which a number of British scientists have worked on. Mars Express arrived at its destination at the end of 2003 and is now sending back exciting information, including evidence of methane, that might point to the existence of life; see http://www.esa.int/Mars for the latest information.
For further information on moon rock samples or to book a loan contact: Jane Butt Science and Technology Facilities Council Tel: 01793 442030 Email: jane.butt@stfc.ac.uk For further information on the venue (including to send a photographer or arrange an interview): Barbara George Sandfields Comprehensive School Southdown View Port Talbot SA12 7AH Tel: 01639 884246 Email: dai.t.george@ukgateway.net For further information on the Science and Technology Facilities Council Julia Maddock Press Officer Science and Technology Facilities Council Tel: 01793 442094 Email: julia.maddock@stfc.ac.uk Science and Technology Facilities Council The Science and Technology Facilities Council ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge exchange partnerships. The Council has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Particle Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Space Science, Synchrotron Radiation, Neutron Sources and High Power Lasers. In addition the Council manages and operates three internationally renowned laboratories: • The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire • The Daresbury Laboratory, Cheshire • The UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh The Council gives researchers access to world-class facilities and funds the UK membership of international bodies such as the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institute Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), the European organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). It also contributes money for the UK telescopes overseas on La Palma, Hawaii, Australia and in Chile, and the MERLIN/VLBI National Facility, which includes the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory. The Council distributes public money from the Government to support scientific research. Between 2008 and 2009 we will invest approximately £787 million.
