Moon Rock Sample with Presentation Plaque and Flag

This sample of Moon rock was brought back to Earth by the Apollo 17 lunar landing mission. The landing took place on 11 December 1972, in the Taurus Littrow Valley, and two astronauts spent just over three days on the Moon. The sample of rock, and a small New Zealand flag that had been taken to the Moon, was presented to the people of New Zealand by the President of the United States, Richard M Nixon, in 1973.

The inscriptions read: 'This fragment is a portion of a rock from the Taurus Littrow Valley of the Moon. It is given as a symbol of the unity of human endeavor and carries with it the hope of the American people for a world at peace.'

'This flag of your nation was carried to the Moon aboard Spacecraft America during the Apollo XVII mission, December 7-19, 1972. Presented to the people of NEW ZEALAND from the people of the United States of America. RICHARD NIXON 1973.'

Apollo 17 was the last mission to land people on the Moon. Commander Eugene Cernan was the last person to walk on the moon on 14 December 1972.

Apollo 17 had the first geologist and only scientist to land on the moon – Harrison ‘Jack’ Schmitt.

This mission saw the greatest distance traversed using the Lunar Roving Vehicle, and the most rock and soil samples to be brought back - 110 kg.