| During the 1960’s and the 1970’s space | | | | authenticity of the moon rock, Senior special agent |
| exploration was on the lips of mankind, anxious to | | | | Gutheinz was able to seize the moon rock on behalf |
| see if travel on the moon would be possible. The | | | | of the United States (Geotimes, 2004). On February |
| space race between the United States and the | | | | 28, 2004, the Honduran moon rock was presented to |
| Soviet Union had the scientists scrabbling to see who | | | | its rightful owner, Honduran President Ricardo Maduro |
| could reach it first, while Americans sat eagerly on | | | | (Geotimes, 2004). |
| the edge of their seats with anticipation. Space | | | | While the Honduran moon rock was safely |
| technology was booming and the NASA budget at | | | | recovered, there are still many more left in poorly |
| that time reflects that. During the mid-60’s, | | | | secured areas or missing entirely. The Goodwill Moon |
| NASA space budget was a massive approximation | | | | Rock of Romania was presented to Dictator Nicolae |
| between 2.5 and 5 billion dollars, which would equal | | | | Ceausescu and is believed to have been one of the |
| about approximately 25 to 34 billion dollars (with | | | | possessions in his estate that were auctioned in 1998. |
| modern inflation applied) (NASA, 2009). The Apollo | | | | It is unknown at this time whether the Goodwill Moon |
| program was designed to reach space first and be | | | | Rock was one of those possession auctioned off at |
| the first to put a man on the moon. The Soviet | | | | that time and the buyers list from that auction is |
| Union beat the United States into space through their | | | | confidential. According to Bucharest Business Week, |
| launch of Sputnik on October 4, 1957, but the United | | | | in an article written by Sonya Rabbitte, the moon |
| States were the first on the moon with Apollo 11 on | | | | rock was held at the National History Museum of |
| July 20, 1969. | | | | Bucharest and displayed as part of a two-part |
| In 1972, NASA launched Apollo 17 for a lunar landing | | | | exhibition of the late dictator’s possessions |
| to gather information and samples from the Moon to | | | | (1998). The disheartening part of the whole article is |
| bring back to Earth. Apollo 17 is a significant mission | | | | the manner in which the moon rock is referred. |
| for many reasons and one being that is was the last | | | | But the days of pride in the President are long gone, |
| mission to put man on the Moon. However, it is | | | | and now you'll find the exhibition carefully labeled and |
| significant for another, less known reason, and that | | | | stored away in the Museum. In retrospect some of |
| would be the collection and distribution of the | | | | the more valuable gifts seem comical... A plaque |
| Goodwill Moon Rocks. One of the samples of rock | | | | bearing a sample of moon rock collected by the crew |
| brought back from the Moon, sample #70017, was | | | | of Apollo 11 was presented by Richard Nixon during |
| divided to be distributed by President Richard Nixon. | | | | his presidency (Rabbitte, 1998). |
| President Nixon divided the sample into 135 pieces, | | | | What was given as a symbol of the greatest |
| “each rock, encased in Lucite, and was mounted | | | | success for mankind at that time, is now being |
| to a plaque with the recipient’s flag also flown to | | | | viewed as a past comical gift. Something that was |
| the Moon (CollectSPACE, 2009).” Each sample | | | | held as such an achievement for mankind is being lost |
| was given to the foreign heads of state for each of | | | | in time. The United States is the one who made this |
| the 135 countries. The idea behind this was that | | | | amazing achievement, and yet is still cutting the |
| these treasures from the Moon would be placed in | | | | NASA budget almost in half from what it was then. |
| museums, planetarium, or other facilities that would | | | | How can we expect those of foreign countries to |
| be accessible to the public for observation and | | | | pay anymore respect to those missions and the |
| preservation, but this has not been the case. | | | | accomplishments when as a country we to devalue |
| President Nixon wanted the world to be able to | | | | the space program? Without a serious change in the |
| share in the accomplishment of reaching the Moon | | | | mentality surrounding the importance of the space |
| and wanted all nations celebrate in this step for all of | | | | programs, the Goodwill Moon Rocks will not be the |
| mankind. | | | | only pieces of history that will be lost. |
| Tragically that could not be farther from the truth. | | | | As I take man's last step from the surface, back |
| The interest in space exploration has seen a steady | | | | home for some time to come — but we believe |
| declined since the Apollo missions. The once massive | | | | not too long into the future — I'd like to just [say] |
| NASA budget of 25 to 34 billion dollars as dwindled | | | | what I believe history will record — that America's |
| down to approximately 15 billion dollars. The nail-biting | | | | challenge of today has forged man's destiny of |
| excitement of the mid to late sixties no longer exists | | | | tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at |
| today. Of the 135 moon rocks that were distributed, | | | | Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God |
| only approximately a dozen have known | | | | willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all |
| whereabouts (CollectSPACE, 2009). Most have been | | | | mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17. – |
| lost or stolen over the years with the exception of a | | | | Eugene A. Cernan, Apollo 17 Commander. Last man |
| few high profile cases. In 1998, a senior special agent | | | | to walk on the moon, December 14, 1972 (Wikipedia, |
| with NASA’s Office of Inspector General, Joseph | | | | 2009). |
| Gutheinz Jr., led an undercover operation with the | | | | CollectSPACE (2009). The history of the Goodwill |
| hope of locating some of the missing moon rocks | | | | moon rock. Retrieved April 1, 2009, from |
| (Geotimes, 2004). Senior special agent Gutheinz | | | | Gutheinz, Jr., J.D., J. (2004, November 1). In Search |
| operated a bogus estate sale company title | | | | of the Goodwill Moon Rocks: A Personal Account. |
| John’s Estate Sale and place an add in the USA | | | | GeoTimes. |
| Today entitled “Moon Rocks Wanted” with | | | | NASA (2009). Budget Documents, Strategic Plans |
| the hopes that someone who was illegally in | | | | and Performance Reports. Retrieved April 1, 2009, |
| possession of one of the rocks would contact him. | | | | from |
| Sure enough, Senior special agent Gutheinz was | | | | Rabbitte, S. (1998, February 23). Spring cleaning |
| contacted by a seller who want $5 million dollars for | | | | Ceausescu's store. Bucharest Business Week. |
| the moon rock. After a lengthy investigation into the | | | | |