NASA intern Thad Roberts stole $21 million in moon rocks from Johnson Space Center for love; shocked the world
In one of the most audacious and bizarre crimes in NASA history,
Thad Roberts
, a 24-year-old intern, stole moon rocks valued at $21 million in 2002, driven by romance rather than greed. Alongside his girlfriend Tiffany Fowler and fellow intern Shae Saur, Roberts executed a meticulously planned burglary at Houston's
Johnson Space Center
, using authentic NASA badges, rewired security cameras, and Neoprene suits to bypass alarms. Their theft of 17 pounds of lunar samples included historic moon rocks from Apollo missions 1969–1972. While Roberts claimed the act was 'for love,' the FBI revealed he had attempted to sell the rocks. This extraordinary heist destroyed priceless scientific research and shocked the world, blending science, crime, and obsession in an unforgettable story.
$21 million moon rock theft at Johnson Space Center shocks scientists worldwide
On a July night in 2002, Roberts, Fowler, and Saur infiltrated Building 31 at Johnson Space Center. Roberts and Fowler donned Neoprene bodysuits, which allowed them to bypass thermal alarms, while Saur acted as a lookout. Using a power saw, they cracked open a 601-pound safe containing moon rocks and meteorites, including samples from every Apollo mission. The stolen lunar samples were worth approximately $21 million and represented decades of scientific research. The planning and execution demonstrated not only audacity but also technical sophistication, showing how a combination of insider knowledge and determination can circumvent the most secure facilities.
Source: Live Science
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice
Grammarly
Install Now
Undo
Who is Thad Roberts? From NASA Intern to mastermind behind the $21 million moon rock theft
Thad Roberts graduated from the University of Utah with a triple degree in physics, geology, and geophysics, making him highly qualified to work at NASA. He met Tiffany Fowler, a 22-year-old stem cell researcher, and the couple quickly became romantically involved. Roberts reportedly told Fowler he wanted to 'give her the moon,' framing the theft as a grand romantic gesture. According to People.com , the FBI considered financial motives, Roberts maintained that the act symbolized devotion rather than profit.
Moon rock theft ends with FBI arrests and millions in NASA lunar samples lost
Roberts and Fowler's motivation went beyond romance—they symbolically 'had sex on the moon' by placing stolen lunar samples under a blanket during intimate moments. Roberts later stated, 'No one had ever had sex on the moon before,' underscoring the bizarre, almost surreal nature of the crime. While Roberts claimed love was the driving factor, the FBI discovered he had negotiated with a Belgian buyer willing to pay up to $5,000 per gram, proving the theft had financial implications.
The heist came to a dramatic end when Roberts and Fowler traveled to Orlando to meet the potential buyer, only to be apprehended by undercover FBI agents. Saur and Gordon McWhorter, who helped arrange the sale, were arrested shortly afterward. The investigation revealed that the theft had caused irreversible damage: the moon rocks were now 'virtually useless to the scientific community,' and three decades of NASA research notes were destroyed as reported.
Moon rock theft from NASA leads to jail, house arrest, and fines
Thad Roberts pleaded guilty to the theft of moon rocks and other NASA artifacts, serving over six years of an eight-year prison sentence before his release in 2008. Tiffany Fowler and Shae Saur received house arrest, community service, and were required to pay restitution to NASA. Gordon McWhorter was convicted at trial for his involvement in the theft and sentenced to six years in prison.
Also Read |
NASA and Google collaborating together to boost astronaut health on Moon and Mars missions
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Bhiwani family refuses to receive woman teacher's body, demand arrest if killers
1 2 Rohtak: A day after the dead body of a woman teacher was found in Bhiwani, the family of the teacher, Manisha, on Thursday refused to accept her body after the post-mortem. They insisted that the police first arrest her killers. Manisha's uncle, Kuldeep, her father, Sanjay, and a large number of relatives gathered at the civil hospital in Bhiwani and said they could block the road in protest. To prevent any blockade, police personnel from the city police station and Loharu police station were deployed on the spot. BJP MP from Bhiwani-Mahendragarh, Chaudhary Dharambir Singh, reached the hospital, heard the family's concerns, and tried to persuade them. According to the police investigation so far, two points have emerged: first, the teacher was abducted and kept somewhere before the killing; second, after the murder, her body was dumped near a canal in fields at Singhani village of Bhiwani. Her mobile phone has not yet been recovered. Manisha's last call was to her father on Aug 11, in which she said, "I will be late." To trace the accused, police have formed six teams. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Secret Lives of the Romanovs — the Last Rulers of Imperial Russia! Learn More Undo Loharu SHO Ashok said spot inspection and probe indicate Manisha was last seen heading towards Kharkari road, which is the route to her play school and nursing college. It is not yet clear whether she reached the college. CCTV footage is being examined. Sanjay, a resident of Dhani Laxman village, has three children. The eldest, Manisha, taught at a play school and usually returned home by the school bus. On Aug 11, the day she went missing, she did not take the bus. Around 1–1:30 pm, she called her father saying she would be late as she had to go for admission at the nursing college, located about 1–1.5 km from her play school. When she did not return by evening and calls went unanswered, the family lodged a missing report. On Aug 13, a farmer found a young woman's body near the canal at Singhani; her neck was slit. Police said that the murder likely occurred on the night of Aug 12–13 or the morning of Aug 13; drag marks at the recovery site suggest the body was dumped there after the killing. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
News18
23 minutes ago
- News18
Massive Object Racing Towards Earth Could Be Alien Spaceship, Warns Harvard Scientist
The discovery of fast-moving object 3I/Atlas has sparked debate, with Harvard's Avi Loeb suggesting it might be an alien spacecraft The age-old question of whether humanity is alone in the universe has once again returned to the spotlight after the discovery of a mysterious, fast-moving object heading toward Earth. The celestial visitor, designated 3I/Atlas, has sparked a heated scientific debate, with one prominent Harvard professor suggesting it might be an alien spacecraft capable of saving or destroying our planet. The object was first detected on July 1, 2025, and is currently hurtling through the inner solar system at an estimated 1,35,000 miles per hour, according to NASA. The agency says it will make its closest approach to the Sun on October 30, at a distance of roughly 130 million miles from Earth. While NASA insists there is no immediate threat, uncertainty over its nature has captured public attention. Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, known for his unconventional theories about extra-terrestrial life, believes 3I/Atlas could be more than just a comet or asteroid. Drawing parallels with Arthur C Clarke's sci-fi classic 'Rendezvous with Rama', in which a seemingly natural object is revealed to be an alien craft, Loeb said that the object might show signs of 'technical design". He warned that it might carry anything from a reconnaissance probe to a weapon. 'It can come to save us or destroy us," Loeb told reporters, adding that humanity must be prepared for both scenarios. 'We should ensure all alien objects are just rocks," he said. Loeb's calculations suggest the object could reach Earth between November 21 and December 5, 2025. NASA estimates the body is between 20 and 24 kilometres in size, nearly 200 times larger than 'Oumuamua', the cigar-shaped interstellar object detected in 2017 that also stirred alien speculation. Due to its distance, scientists cannot yet determine its exact dimensions or composition. While Loeb's statements have made headlines, not all experts are convinced. Oxford University astronomer Chris Lintott dismissed the alien theory outright, calling it 'complete nonsense" and warning that such claims undermine the serious scientific work being conducted on the object. NASA and the European Space Agency currently classify 3I/Atlas as an outer solar system comet. Loeb concedes this is the most likely explanation, yet insists a 'slight possibility" remains that it is an artificial craft. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Actor Darshan arrested after SC cancels bail in Renukaswamy murder case
Bengaluru: Kannada actor Darshan was arrested on Thursday after his bail was cancelled by the Supreme Court in the Renukaswamy murder case . Independence Day 2025 Before Trump, British used tariffs to kill Indian textile Bank of Azad Hind: When Netaji gave India its own currency Swadeshi 2.0: India is no longer just a market, it's a maker His arrest came shortly after his friend and actress Pavithra Gowda, the prime accused in the case, was taken into police custody. According to police sources, Darshan was arrested at his wife Vijayalakshmi's house in Hosakerehalli in Bengaluru. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The 5 Books Warren Buffett Recommends You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Sources said the actor wanted to evade arrest and surrender in court, but the police got information about his stay and arrested him.
