Moon rock gifted to Eire by Apollo astronauts destroyed by hearth

A priceless piece of moon rock donated to Eire following a NASA mission has been destroyed in a fireplace, newly launched data present.

Paperwork from the Nationwide Archives in Dublin element the embarrassing affair, which noticed the rock journey 380,000km to Earth earlier than spending three years in a authorities basement and eventually being misplaced in an unintended hearth on the Dunsink Observatory.

The moon rock, from the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, was gifted to President Eamon de Valera by American Ambassador JG Moore in 1970.

Confidential paperwork from April 1984 present that Irish authorities have been not sure the place to show the specimen till the US provided to donate a second piece of moon rock to Eire in 1973, following of one other profitable Apollo mission.

A memo discussing the unique Moon Rock notes: “This piece was donated on September 4, 1973, on the recommendation of the Division of Schooling, to the Dublin Institute for Superior Research for show on the Dunsink Observatory.

“This piece of moon rock had been mendacity within the basement of this division for 3 and a half years as a result of indecision as to the place it might be finest displayed.

“It was determined to offer the Moonstone to Dunsink when it grew to become identified {that a} second present was going to be made by the American authorities and it was felt that some embarrassment can be induced if the primary piece was not already on show .”

Sadly, the repatriation of the rock to Dunsink resulted within the disappearance of the artifact.

“The primary room was destroyed in a fireplace in Dunsink on October 3, 1977,” paperwork reveal.

The second monitor of Moon Rock was donated by the US in 1973, accompanied by a particular plaque together with the Irish tricolor.

“Because the moon rock was handed over on to the president, it was displayed in the lounge of Aras an Uachtarain,” notes one doc.

The moon rock was later loaned to Aer Lingus on the request of Managing Director David Kennedy in order that it might be displayed on the 1976 Aer Lingus Younger Scientists Exhibition.

One other memo said {that a} everlasting show of the moon rock on the official residence of the Irish president was deemed inappropriate on condition that Aras an Uachtarain was solely open to visitors – and that the US intention was clearly that the item is accessible to the general public. visualization.

“Essentially the most acceptable museum assortment during which it might be displayed can be the geological or mineralogical assortment – (however) the (Nationwide) Museum doesn’t have house to mount its geological show and subsequently the moon rock must be saved , which might not meet the necessities,” he stated.

Given the dearth of appropriate options, it was urged that the moon rock be briefly given to the nationwide airline and main airport operator, Aer Rianta, the place it might be displayed in its primary airport exhibition house .

“Aer Rianta agreed to just accept the plaque for its show and the Workplace of Public Works (OPW) transferred the plaque to them on October 28, 1975,” one other word notes.

Eight years later, a doc indicated that the Aer Rianta exhibition had ended and the semi-state not wished to have the moon rock in its possession.

Ireland

The cross-border bridge was envisaged in 1975 at cost…

A brand new Geological Survey Workplace exhibition house was nearly prepared and the Division of the Taoiseach famous that this could characterize the perfect future residence and show location for the artefact.

It was agreed that, if obligatory, the moon rock might be loaned to the Nationwide Museum if it will be an acceptable merchandise for future exhibitions.

– This text relies on paperwork from 2024/5/67