British media: NASA blocks auction of lunar soil and dead cockroaches that eat lunar soil
[Global Times Comprehensive Report] According to the British "Times" report on the 27th, NASA recently blocked an auction for items including soil brought back from the moon by Apollo 11 in 1969 and edible soil The three cockroach carcasses were estimated by the auction company to fetch as much as $400,000.
Lots in this auction are from the late entomologist Marion Brooks.
NASA fed some lunar soil samples brought back by Apollo 11 to cockroaches to test them for pathogens that threaten life on Earth.
The research was done by Brooks. After the experiment, the lunar soil and cockroach carcasses were not returned to NASA, but remained at her home. The family had put them up for auction at a California auction house in 2010. to NASA's block.
The agency said in the lawyer's letter: "NASA owns the ownership of the Apollo 11 project samples, and even after analysis, destruction or other use, no person, university or other organization may retain or sell these samples." gram)