Apollo Rock Box

This box was used on the Apollo 11 Lunar mission to transport rock samples from the Moon back to earth for study. Manufactured by Union Carbide’s Nuclear Division, the all-aluminum case has triple seals to maintain a protective vacuum inside the case during the trip back home. This carrier was filled with 21.8 lbs of lunar material from the Sea of Tranquility by the Apollo 11 astronauts.

(photo: Smithsonian Air & Space Museum)