HOUSTON: Scientists here are arguing over whether spatters of glass spotted by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin on moon rocks were natural or artefact.

Dr Eugene Shoemaker, a geologist, told reporters the two moonwalkers had taken close-up photographs — but none of the spattered rocks were brought back to Earth.

One interesting point, Dr Shoemaker said, was that the glass must have hit the rocks at a slow enough speed not to have splashed off again.

Speaking after a de-briefing session with the astronauts yesterday [Aug 6], he added: “We’re having a real debate amongst ourselves as to whether the glass is natural, that it was there on the surface to begin with … or whether it may have been an artefact.”

He suggested it might have been produced by the melting of some of the surface material by the descent engine on the lunar module.

Another curious thing was that the spacemen only saw the glass-spattered rocks at the bottom of craters.

“I think we’re going to have that controversy for some time,” he said.

Dr Shoemaker said that there were many interesting rocks that had been observed that the astronauts had not been able to go back and collect. — Agency

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2019