New Mexico lunar sample displays New Mexico lunar sample displays The New Mexico lunar sample displays are two commemorative plaques consisting of small fragments of moon specimen brought back with the Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 lunar missions and given in the 1970s to the people of the state of New Mexico by United States President Richard Nixon as goodwill gifts. The New Mexico Apollo 11 lunar sample display commemorative podium style plaque consists of four rice-size moon rock particle specimens that were collected by Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in 1969 and a small New Mexico state flag that was taken
Newberry Volcano Williams, a name which was formally accepted in 2003 when geologist Larry Chitwood supported it through the official geographic naming process. NASA used the area in Oct. 1964 and July 1966 to geologically train the Apollo Astronauts in recognizing volcanic features, such as cinder and pumice cones, lava flows, ash and obsidian flows, and a lava tube. Astronauts who would use this training on the Moon included Apollo 11's Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 12's Alan Bean, Apollo 14's Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 15's James Irwin, and Apollo 16's Charlie Duke. Notable geologist instructors included Aaron Waters. The Newberry National