Joe Gutheinz, a former special agent at NASA's Office of Inspector General, shares captivating stories from Operation Lunar Eclipse. He recounts a quirky ad seeking moon rocks that led to an undercover sting operation. Gutheinz reveals the allure of counterfeit lunar treasures and the surprising experiences he had while investigating their authenticity. He also discusses the legal battles surrounding stolen moon rocks, offering listeners a glimpse into the complexities of space memorabilia and the fascinating history of the Apollo missions.
Joe Gutheinz's investigations revealed significant security challenges at NASA, particularly in protecting against fraud involving valuable moon rocks.
The podcast illustrates how the allure of moon rocks created a black market for counterfeit operations shortly after the Apollo missions.
Deep dives
The Role of NASA's Inspector General
Joe Goodhines served as a special agent at NASA’s Office of Inspector General, where he explored various crimes involving the agency, including fraud and impersonation cases. While working at the Kennedy Space Center, he encountered unusual incidents such as individuals attempting to sell fake moon rocks to unsuspecting buyers. One notable case involved a man who claimed to be an astronaut and submitted a fabricated resume that included false CIA connections. Goodhines’ investigations not only uncovered fraud but highlighted the security challenges NASA faced in protecting its valuable artifacts.
The Myths and Realities of Moon Rocks
Moon rocks collected during the Apollo missions are considered national treasures, with the U.S. government maintaining strict regulations against private ownership. The podcast details the early attempts to sell fake moon rocks just after the Apollo 11 mission, illustrating how easily people were scammed. For instance, a vacuum cleaner salesman managed to convince homeowners in Florida that he had authentic moon materials, selling them dirt that was not from space. The podcast emphasizes how the allure of moon rocks has led to a black market and counterfeit operations since their return to Earth.
Operation Lunar Eclipse: A Sting Operation
In response to the growing fake moon rock market, Goodhines developed a sting operation named 'Operation Lunar Eclipse.' The plan included placing an ad in a newspaper soliciting potential sellers while disguising the operation as a legitimate interest in moon rocks. After successfully luring in a suspect who had claimed to possess a real moon rock, Goodhines secured funding from Ross Perot to complete the deal. This undercover operation ultimately led to the recovery of an authentic moon rock that had been misappropriated, demonstrating the lengths to which authorities would go to safeguard these priceless artifacts.
On September 18, 1998, an unusual ad ran in USA Today — a company called John’s Estate Sales was looking to buy a moon rock. The phone number on the ad belonged to Special Agent Joe Gutheinz at NASA.