Apollo Lunar Tools and Equipment

88. The Apollo Lunar Hand Tool Carrier holds 32 kilograms (70 pounds) of equipment, including a trenching tool, two geology scoops, four rock bags, a portable magnetometer, and five cameras.

Penetrometer

Tongs

Extension handle

Core tube caps assy.

Color chart & traverse map

Core tubes

16mm camera

Camera staff

35-bag dispenser

Core tubes

Scoop

Hammer

Lens/brush

Gnomon

Most tools and other pieces of equipment used by Apollo astronauts on the Moon were left behind as the astronauts departed to return to the Earth. This was done to conserve weight in the lunar module ascent stage so that the maximum quantity of samples of lunar soil and rocks could be brought back to the Earth.

Some tools and pieces of equipment, however, were returned to the Earth. These include such items as a lunar hammer, a 16-mm camera, film cassettes, lunar sample return containers, parts of a lunar roving vehicle fender, and parts of the unmanned spacecraft Surveyor 3 visited by Apollo 12 astronauts.

In addition, astronauts carried small mementos with them when they landed on the Moon.

Other lunar tools and instruments on exhibit were backup, prototype, or used by the astronauts in pre-flight training.

The lunar hammer is on loan from Alan L. Bean; other tools and instruments are from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

89. An Apollo lunar sample return container. In this view, the rock box contains sample material and core tubes.

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