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View of the Passive Seismic Experiment.

Picture 1 of 2.

The accompanying sign reads

Passive Seismic Experiment

Deployed on five Apollo missions (Apollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, and Apollo 16), this experiment sent back critical information on the Moon's internal structure and the physical state of its interior.

It also reported on the number and size of meteoroids striking the lunar surface, tidal shifts, and changes in the Moon's gravitational field.

Inside, four seismometers measured seismic waves from .004 to 20 Hz.

The Passive Seismic Experiment displayed here was manufactured in Michigan by Bendix, and was scheduled to go on the Apollo 17 mission. It was replaced with another experiment due to the successful functioning of its predecessors deployed on previous missions.

Note the flat, copper-colored ribbon connector connecting this experiment to the central station.