May 20, 2013
BUFFALO, Texas (AP) -- Former NASA investigator Joe Gutheinz has been on a quest to recover moon rocks.
Samples were collected by the dozen American astronauts who walked on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1972. U.S. states, territories, the United Nations and foreign governments received them as gifts.
Some rock samples were loaned to museums and given to scientists for research. They ranged from dust particles to tiny pebbles.
Gutheinz says many moon rocks are in storage. He says an inventory control system is needed.
The Houston lawyer teaches college classes in investigative techniques. He and his students are responsible for directly or indirectly recovering 79 moon rocks since 2002.
These include lunar rocks presented to several governors.
No one has kept proper track of the rocks. NASA has promised to tighten controls.
