University of Central Florida Physics Associate Professor Dan Britt got a rare opportunity to study lunar samples from the Apollo 14 and 15 missions.

NASA Johnson Space Center Lunar Repository released the moon rocks –one of the largest loans ever to a university researcher–so Britt could study their density, volume and other physical features. The three samples brought back by astronaut Alan Shepard and others weigh only 80 grams combined but are valued at more than a half a million dollars.

“The goal is to help determine the density of the moon’s crust,” Britt said from his lab. “Back in the Apollo days, we just didn’t have the equipment we have today to make accurate calculations. Having precise numbers is important as NASA prepares a new generation of lunar probes.”  

Density and mass are important when it comes to using the moon’s gravitational pull to probe its crust and internal structure– something that will be critical when NASA plans to return to the moon.

Britt’s research revolves around using remote sensing tools to determine the composition and evolution of solar system objects, including asteroids, comets and Mars. He’s worked on several NASA projects, including the Mars Pathfinder mission in 1993. 

Britt’s research compliments work being conducted by UCF graduate student Robert Macke. Under Britt’s supervision, Macke studied meteorite collections last year at the National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian) in Washington, D.C., and several universities in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. In November, Macke heads to the Natural History Museum in London to continue his work.