In a recent statement, Dr. Lori Glaze, acting associate administrator for NASA’s Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, mentioned that the moon and Earth share the same material composition.
Before the Apollo moon landings, there was a debate among scientists about the moon’s origins. Carolyn Crow, an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, explained that the Apollo samples led to a new theory on how Earth obtained its large moon.
One significant finding in the samples was anorthosite, a type of igneous rock rarely found in isolation on Earth but abundant on the near side of the moon. This suggests the presence of ideal conditions for its formation.
Crow elaborated that a large magma pond slowly cooling could lead to anorthosite floating up to the surface, explaining its prevalence on the moon. The presence of anorthosite indicates that the moon was once a complete magma ocean.
Furthermore, isotopes found in Apollo rock samples match those in Earth’s mantle, indicating they formed simultaneously. These findings have led scientists to support the theory that a Mars-sized object collided with Earth, resulting in the creation of the moon.
