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Questions about Lunar Receiving Laboratory

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When did the Lunar Receiving Laboratory open its doors?

The Lunar Receiving Laboratory opened its doors in 1969. This facility was constructed at NASA's Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center to isolate astronauts and lunar rocks immediately upon their return from space.

How much lunar material did six Apollo missions deliver between 1969 and 1972?

Six Apollo missions delivered 382 kilograms of material between 1969 and 1972. These shipments included 2,200 distinct samples collected from six different exploration sites.

Which Soviet spacecraft returned lunar regolith to the Lunar Receiving Laboratory?

Three automated Soviet spacecraft returned smaller quantities of regolith to the Lunar Receiving Laboratory. Luna 16 arrived with its payload in 1970, Luna 20 followed suit in 1972, and Luna 24 completed the trio by returning samples in 1976.

Where is the new Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility located?

A new Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility opened in 1979 to become the chief repository for Apollo samples. This permanent home includes vaults designed for secure and non-contaminating storage.

What happened to Building 37 after sample storage moved elsewhere?

Building 37 transitioned from a quarantine zone into a hub for biomedical research. NASA's Life Sciences division took over the structure to study human adaptation to microgravity.

When did NASA confirm plans to demolish the Lunar Receiving Laboratory?

September 2019 brought news that the Lunar Receiving Laboratory was no longer needed. The agency declared plans to demolish the historic building shortly thereafter because it had sat unused for two years prior to this announcement.