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Moon rocks enliven Texas squadron meeting
Maj. Hopkins, wing aerospoace education director, shows rare rocks to Thunderbird Composite Squadron
January 10, 2007
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| A Thunderbird Composite Squadron cadet examines moon rocks. |
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| Maj. Mike Hopkins (right) of Texas Wing Headquarters and retired Air Force Master Sgt. Garret Coleman discuss the moon rocks. | 1st Lt. Denise Thompson
Public Affairs Officer
Thunderbird Composite Squadron
Texas Wing
TEXAS -- Members of Thunderbird Composite Squadron got a very rare chance recently to look at and touch a piece of space history.
The opportunity arose when Maj. Mike Hopkins, director of aerospace education for Civil Air Patrol's Texas Wing brought moon rocks -- obtained from NASA for the wing's Winter Encampment -- to the regular squadron meeting Jan. 2 at West Houston Airport.
The moon rocks, encased in thick, clear Lucite, proved intriguing to every squadron member present.
As Hopkins explained, “These rocks were collected during the moon missions. To have these on loan, I had to get a safe installed in my office at work.”
As the small, treasured discs were passed around to each squadron member, Hopkins further discussed the different rocks and how they were formed. He also talked about the areas on the moon where the rocks were found.
“There are 150 sets of these moon rocks for loan throughout the nation. NASA has very strict guidelines for handling and storing the moon rocks, " Hopkins noted after his presentation.
"I was very gratified to watch everyone as they looked at these unique rocks,” he said.
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