Organic Sample Monitors in the form of clean, thin aluminum mesh were carried inside of the Apollo Sample Return Containers on the Apollo 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 missions. After the mission, organic compound contamination of the mesh could be compared to contamination of the lunar samples to indicate if the source was the astronauts and spacecraft during the mission or of lunar origin. The mesh was inserted inside cylindrical teflon bags.
These three examples (with no mesh inserted) are unflown. They were transferred to the Smithsonian in 1974.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
United States of America
EQUIPMENT-Lunar
Union Carbide, Nuclear Division
Overall (Bag): 4 3/4in. in. wide x 1ft 4 9/16 in. long, 0.2 lb. (12 x 42cm, 0.1kg)
Bag: teflon
Closure: Aluminum
A19790807000
Transferred from NASA, Johnson Space Center
National Air and Space Museum
Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.