The Apollo 17 lunar sample display showcases a lava Moon stone recovered by Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt (former US Senator from New Mexico)..
The Apollo 17 lunar sample display consists of a Moon rock fragment from a lava Moon stone identified as lunar basalt 70017, the recipient's flag and two small metal plates attached with descriptive messages. Eugene Cernan ended his walk on the Moon in 1972 with a dedication to the young people of Earth. He explained that Harrison Schmitt, his fellow astronaut on the Moon with him, had just picked up a very significant Moon rock that they hoped would bring this worldwide peace through the distribution of its fragments. Schmitt resigned from NASA in August 1975 to run for election to the United States Senate as a member from New Mexico. As the Republican candidate in the 1976 election, he defeated Democratic incumbent Joseph Montoya. In the 1982 election, Schmitt was defeated by Democrat Jeff Bingaman. 
