NASA Intern’s $21M Moon Rock Heist Ends in Federal Prison

In a remarkable case of audacity, former NASA intern Thad Roberts orchestrated a theft of 17 pounds of moon rocks and a meteorite valued at approximately $21 million. This theft took place over two decades ago at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and was motivated by a combination of financial struggles and a bizarre personal narrative.

Roberts, then just 24 years old and a triple major in physics, geology, and geophysics at the University of Utah, devised a plan to acquire these priceless samples from the Apollo missions, which were secured in a 600-pound safe. Facing financial difficulties while supporting his wife back in Utah, he initially sought out a buyer for the moon rocks. With assistance from a friend, Gordon McWhorter, Roberts connected with a potential Belgian purchaser willing to pay between $1,000 and $5,000 per gram.

Things took a turn when the buyer grew suspicious and contacted the FBI, who instructed him to maintain communication while they investigated. Around this time, Roberts met fellow intern Tiffany Fowler, who was working on stem cell research. Their relationship swiftly transitioned from friendship to romance, and soon they were living together. Upon revealing his plan to Fowler, she agreed to assist him in the heist.

On the night of the theft, Roberts, Fowler, and another intern, Shae Saur, used their NASA identification badges to gain unauthorized access to the Johnson Space Center. They successfully made off with the safe containing the moon rocks. Back at their hotel, the trio used a power saw to open the safe and claim their treasure.

The “Moon” Encounter

On July 20, 2002, coinciding with the 33rd anniversary of the first moon landing, Roberts and Fowler drove to Orlando to meet the family members of the Belgian buyer. In a peculiar gesture, Roberts placed the moon rocks beneath the bed covers, claiming they had “sex on the moon.” In a 2012 interview with CBS News, he elaborated on this moment, saying, “It was more about the symbol of what we were doing, basically having sex on the moon.”

Their plans took a drastic turn when the couple and Saur were confronted by undercover FBI agents instead of the anticipated buyers. The moon rocks were recovered from their hotel room, though the FBI later stated they were “virtually useless to the scientific community” due to the theft. The incident also resulted in the destruction of three decades of handwritten research notes by a NASA scientist.

After his arrest, Roberts also confessed to stealing dinosaur bones and fossils from the Natural History Museum in Salt Lake City. When questioned about his motivations, he stated, “We weren’t going to take this money to go buy a yacht or lots of cars… We were gonna live just the small kind of lifestyle we were, but fund science that might change the world.”

Legal Consequences

Ultimately, Roberts, Fowler, and Saur pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft and interstate transportation of stolen property. Roberts received a sentence of eight years in federal prison, of which he served six. Fowler and Saur were each sentenced to 180 days of house arrest and 150 hours of community service. McWhorter, who was convicted at trial, received a six-year prison sentence. Following their legal troubles, Roberts and Fowler never saw each other again.

The case serves as a cautionary tale about ambition, greed, and the unexpected consequences of seemingly harmless decisions. It highlights not only the lengths to which individuals might go for personal gain but also the profound impact that such actions can have on scientific integrity and collaboration.