A former NASA intern was sentenced for stealing $21 million worth of lunar samples in 2002, a theft later linked to an unusual personal motive and significant scientific loss.
At a Glance
- Theft involved 17 pounds of Apollo mission moon rocks and a Martian meteorite
- Items were taken from a secure vault at Johnson Space Center in Houston
- FBI sting operation led to arrests and recovery of the materials
- Primary suspect served six years in federal prison after pleading guilty
- Some stolen samples were rendered scientifically unusable
Inside the 2002 Lunar Theft
In July 2002, 24-year-old Thad Roberts, then a NASA intern and university student, led a coordinated theft from the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Roberts and two fellow interns accessed a restricted area containing lunar samples collected during the Apollo missions, along with a rare Martian meteorite. The total estimated value of the stolen material was $21 million.
The group disabled security cameras, used authorized entry badges, and removed a 600-pound safe containing 17 pounds of moon rocks. They transported the safe to a hotel, where it was forcibly opened. The timing of the theft coincided with the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
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An Unusual Motive and Attempted Sale
Investigators later revealed that Roberts incorporated some of the stolen samples into a personal symbolic gesture, placing them beneath bedcovers during an intimate encounter. While this detail attracted media attention, the FBI determined that a significant part of the motive was financial.
Roberts and his accomplices attempted to sell the moon rocks to a Belgian collector. The prospective buyer was, in fact, an FBI informant. The meeting in Orlando, Florida, was used to conduct a sting operation, during which all participants were apprehended and the stolen material recovered.
Legal Outcomes and Scientific Impact
Roberts pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of government property and was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, serving six. Two co-conspirators received sentences of home detention, community service, and restitution. Another associate, who facilitated the search for a buyer, was sentenced to six years in prison.
While the rocks were recovered, some had been removed from their original packaging and documentation. NASA determined that these handling changes and missing records rendered certain samples unsuitable for further scientific study. Experts noted that these lunar specimens were not only valuable monetarily but also irreplaceable in terms of geological and historical significance.
Broader Implications for Security
The incident prompted NASA to reassess its security protocols for handling and storing extraterrestrial samples. Measures implemented afterward included increased surveillance, more restrictive access to sensitive areas, and tighter inventory controls.
The case remains one of the most notable security breaches in NASA’s history, serving as both a cautionary tale and a reminder of the need to safeguard irreplaceable scientific assets.