A moon rock that was supposed to be sent to Cyprus as a gesture of goodwill by the United States has finally been delivered to the east Mediterranean island nation. On Friday, a ceremony will take place at the presidential palace in Nicosia to officially give over the lunar sample, which is attached to a wooden plaque and enclosed in an acrylic ball (Dec. 16). 

The Cyprus Space Exploration Organization (CSEO) will showcase the moon rock as part of an exhibition that is open through Sunday as a way to commemorate the occasion. According to George Danos, president of CSEO, 'we feel [it] is excellent timing because it's 50 years after it was delivered to Earth.'

 Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt of Apollo 17 paused in front of the television camera on December 13, 1972, as their third and last moonwalk was nearing to a finish, to dedicate a 6.5-pound (3 kilogramme) moon rock as a goodwill gift to the world. 

The rock was broken into 200 or so pieces upon its return to Earth, each weighing 0.04 ounces (1.142 grammes), to be sent to 135 nations, the 50 United States states, and U.S. territories. The United States gave up Apollo-recovered lunar material for the second and final time at that time. Each of the Apollo 17 goodwill moon rocks was given to a selected nation or state on a plaque with the flag flown during the mission.

 According to a plate that was a part of the display, the lunar sample was 'presented as a symbol of the oneness of the human endeavour and bears the hope of the American people for a world of peace.' Sadly, there was no sense of tranquilly in Cyprus at the time. The president of the nation, whom the embassy planned to present with the moon rock in 1973, was ousted in a coup.