Word: lunar
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...Lunar Landslides...
Chemists also confirmed the possibly volcanic character of many of the lunar samples. The minerals that they have already identified include feldspar and olivine-both found on earth. Other information came by radio from the lunar surface itself. Despite fears that the intense heat of the two-week lunar day might ruin its intricate mechanism, the seismometer left behind at Tranquillity Base continued to function, recording more than two dozen "seismic events." Some of the tracings seemed remarkably like shocks recorded during quakes on earth. Other signals pointed to the possibility of lunar landslides, set off in crater walls...
...indicate that the moon, like the earth, may be a multilayered body with a basaltic crust perhaps twelve miles thick (v. a maximum of 25 miles on earth), and a hot interior core. Apollo's preliminary findings are also persuading some distinguished scientists to consider re-examining their lunar theories. Among them is Nobel Chemistry Laureate Harold C. Urey, long a proponent of a "cold" moon...
Despite the undeniable progress of the Apollo postmortem, there were some glitches. A vital rubber glove used to reach into the vacuum chamber holding the lunar rocks and equipment cracked, causing air to rush into the chamber. Two technicians, exposed to lunar material, were quickly placed in quarantine, at least until the astronauts get a clean bill of health. The plumbing presented a more familiar problem. Twice a urinal backed up in an unquarantined section of the spanking new $15.8 million lab. That caused a full day's delay in experiments...
Space agency scientists were also alarmed-and more than a little irritated -by President Nixon's announcement during his current global tour that once the scientists have finished their studies, he plans to send souvenir pieces of lunar material to world leaders. In Houston, where the 54 Ibs. of rocks are being handled as priceless treasures, the reaction was anger. "How the hell many rocks does he think we have?" muttered one scientist. Later, however, some of the scientists conceded that Nixon's generosity might pay off in international good will, once more rocks are gathered from...