Rocks of the Moon: Apollo’s Geological Legacy

One of the most remarkable aspects of the Apollo missions was not just the landings themselves, but the science conducted on the Moon. This image shows an Apollo astronaut examining a large lunar boulder, highlighting NASA’s focus on geology during the later missions. Crews were trained extensively in field geology to recognize rock types, collect meaningful samples, and photograph formations for scientists back on Earth. These investigations helped uncover the Moon’s volcanic history, impact processes, and relationship to Earth. The enormous boulders scattered across the lunar surface told stories of ancient impacts and tectonic forces that shaped the Moon billions of years ago.