First; Is it a meteorite if it lands on the Moon? Isn't it just a chunk of
asteroid or planetary debris added to our Moon. No atmo/no fusion crust. No
atmo/no resistance to slow approach but then again no entry velocity generated
but a great amount of gravity but rather only cosmic velocity. Anything found
would most likely be a fragment of shrapnel.
Second; Why recover Lunar meteorites? Why not simply bring back or send back
from a remote catapult system canisters to Space shuttles poised for recovery
lots and lots of Lunar rocks? Isn't that where this thread started, with Lunar
rocks? An un-manned rover could be fairly affordable and half of those lunar
rocks could be used for research while the other half pays for the private
venture to recovery them. But then wouldn't that lower the value of the Lunar
rocks? I mean, if everyone could buy a piece of Chassigny for their collection
wouldn't that lower the price of Chassigny? I remember when Blaine Reed was
selling Ureilites for $200.00 per gram and Brachinites and CR2 for $200.00 to
$400.00 per gram. I remember Eagles Nest selling for $400.00 per gram and
Hughes 004 selling for $200.00 per gram. In the late eighties and early
nineties before the flood of material from NW Africa that began with El Hammami
Mtns which I give Ali and Simon Hmani full credit for helping me re
cover in November of 1997, values of Space Rocks were much different. I would
imagine that the same might happen with regard to supply and demand for Lunar
rocks. Besides, its kind of fun that there are these special specimens that
cannot be had. It gives us all something to dream about. Really, don't you
collectors find that you want something a great deal more when you feel that it
can't be had?
Simply thinking aloud.
Cheers, Edwin
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