Apollo 11 moon rocks to be transferred to Minnesota Historical Society

Apollo 11 moon rocks are scheduled to be transferred

Wednesday from the Minnesota National Guard to the Minnesota Historical

Society in front of an audience of children at Science and Technology

Academies Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space Exploration (STARBASE)

Minnesota.

"The Apollo 11 moon rocks were found amongst military artifacts in a storage

area at the Veterans Service Building in St. Paul," said Army Maj. Blane R.

Iffert, former state historian for the Minnesota National Guard.

"When I searched the internet to find additional information about the moon

rocks, I knew we had to find a better means to display this artifact," said

Iffert. "It is stated on some websites that approximately 180 are currently

unaccounted for of the 270 moon rocks from the Apollo 11 and Apollo 17

missions. We've just lowered that number by one."

"We are honored to have this in our collection to preserve for future

generations," said Pat Gaarder, Minnesota Historical Society Deputy Director.

"Space exploration is an important part of our shared history. It is also

exciting to think that our collection includes artifacts from across the

globe and now with these moon rocks, the galaxy."

"These students will one day be the scientists, engineers and astronauts to

first set foot on Mars," said Kim Van Wie, executive director of STARBASE

Minnesota. "We're excited they'll be able to see, first hand, evidence of

this historic Apollo mission to the moon and how that has paved the way for

future exploration that they could eventually be a part of."

"The purpose of STARBASE is to educate and inspire urban youth in science,

technology, engineering and math (STEM)," said Van Wie. "STARBASE

Minnesota's hands-on curriculum, unique aerospace resources, state of the art

technology and exciting environment that immerses students in STEM has

inspired 41,000 youth since 1993."

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