Moon Dust ‘Rarer Than Gold’ Arrives in the UK from China

For the first time in nearly half a century, the UK has received lunar material, courtesy of China’s Chang’e 5 mission, marking a significant moment in space science collaboration. These microscopic grains of Moon dust, considered “more precious than gold” are now secured within a high-security laboratory in Milton Keynes.

Professor Mahesh Anand, the only UK-based researcher entrusted with this exceptionally rare material, described the opportunity as a “tremendous honour”. This is the first time that China has shared its lunar samples with international scientists, breaking new ground in global space cooperation.

“No one outside of China had access to these samples before. This is a huge privilege” Prof Anand said.

His team at the Open University will conduct laser-based and chemical analyses on the material to investigate the Moon’s origins and its connection to early Earth. Scientists believe the Moon was formed from the debris of a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body around 4.5 billion years ago, and these tiny particles may hold crucial evidence to support that theory.

A Cosmic Treasure with a Volcanic Past

The Chang’e 5 mission, launched in 2020, targeted a volcanic region called Mons Rümker, where a robotic arm collected 2kg of lunar soil. This marked the first successful Moon sample return since the Soviet Luna 24 mission in 1976, catapulting China to the forefront of the new space exploration era.

Now, seven international scientists, including researchers from Russia, Japan, Pakistan, and Europe, have been granted access to these samples a testament to the growing spirit of scientific diplomacy.

Prof Anand received the samples during a ceremonial handover in Beijing and transported the 60mg of Moon dust back to the UK in his hand luggage for maximum safety.

Handling the Precious Dust

To avoid any risk of contamination, researchers must enter the lab through decontamination mats and wear protective suits, including gloves, gowns, hair nets, and hoods. Inside a secure vault, the vials — each holding a fine dusting of dark grey grains are stored like precious gems.

Though the material may appear modest, it’s packed with scientific potential.

“Even this small amount is more than enough for years of research. We specialize in working at the microscale” Prof Anand explained.

High-Stakes Science in Action

Kay Knight, a seasoned rock preparation technician, will be the first to handle the grains. After decades of slicing meteorites, this will be her first time working on actual lunar regolith.

“It’s thrilling — but the pressure is intense. These samples are irreplaceable,” she said.

Once the dust is prepared, it will undergo rigorous testing in specialized labs. One machine, built over decades by technician Sasha Verchovsky, can heat the particles to 1,400°C to extract elements like carbon, nitrogen, and noble gases.

Another technician, James Malley, will use laser technology to analyze oxygen levels within individual grains.

“I’ll target a single speck with the laser. It’ll glow and start to melt inward that’s where the analysis begins” he said.

One Year to Unlock Lunar Secrets

The team has 12 months to complete their research. In that time, much of the precious dust may be used up or altered by experiments. But the potential discoveries could reshape our understanding of the Moon’s geological history and planetary formation.

Meanwhile, China has gone even further, returning with new samples from the Moon’s far side via the Chang’e 6 mission in 2024, an area thought to hold clues about ancient volcanic activity.
“This is just the beginning” Prof Anand noted.
“We’ve built our careers on Apollo-era samples, and it’s exciting to see a new era of international sharing and exploration. I hope more countries will follow China’s lead”.