Smithsonian Institution
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Asset Name:
media:NASM-A4C9B12A19AB2_07

File Usage:

Not determined
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Object details:

Object Name: Can, Sample Container, Special Environment, Lunar, Apollo
Smithsonian Record ID: edanmdm:nasm_A19740861000

	Object Name
	Can, Sample Container, Special Environment, Lunar, Apollo

	Metadata Usage
	Not determined

	Guid
	http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9e12af1a8-2d63-4a46-8a6b-5ed1c2c3a47a

	Data Source
	National Air and Space Museum

	Manufacturer
	Union Carbide, Nuclear Division

	Materials
	304L Stainless Steel.

	Dimensions
	3-D: 12.7 x 6.7cm (5 x 2 5/8 in.)

	Summary
	All of the Apollo lunar landing missions were equipped with containers specially designed to isolate small rock or soil samples from possible contamination during transfer from the lunar surface back to the lunar receiving laboratory on Earth. The open end of the can had a knife edge and the lid was fitted with an indium/silver seal, each of which was protected by a Teflon sheet until just before closure by the astronauts. Once filled with a small lunar sample and sealed the contents, including the near vacuum sample of the lunar atmosphere, could be analyzed on Earth to reveal uncontaminated details of chemical composition.

	Summary
	This is an example of the container portion of the larger of the two container types, the so named Special Environmental Sample Container, flown on each of the six successful lunar missions. Transferred to the Museum in 1974 along with a large number of items used during training, its actual use is not documented.

	Country of Origin
	United States of America

	Credit Line
	Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

	Inventory Number
	A19740861000

	Type
	EQUIPMENT-Lunar

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