50 Years Ago Space 50 years ago, scientists found a lunar rock nearly as old as the moon Excerpt from the March 30, 1974 issue of Science News In this composite image, Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt stands next to a lunar boulder. A sample collected from such a boulder proved to be nearly as old as the moon itself. Gene Cernan/NASA Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterPinterestPocketRedditPrint By Emily Conover April 11, 2024 at 11:30 am A rock from the moon’s early days — Science News, March 30, 1974 Taking its last shot at the prize, the Apollo program came through.