Watch CBS News

NASA Settles Suit With Former Astronaut

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – NASA has settled its suit against a former astronaut who possessed a camera which had been to the moon.

Former astronaut Edgar Mitchell said the camera he brought back from the Apollo 14 moon mission was given to him by NASA. Mitchell said he unbolted the camera from the lunar module before the astronauts returned to earth to preserve the tape inside. Mitchell says NASA later told him he could keep it. NASA claimed it was never given as a gift, the camera was their property and they wanted it back.

Under terms of the settlement, which a federal judge signed off on Monday, the camera will be returned to NASA who in turn will give it to the National Air and Space Museum.

Mitchell, only one of 12 people to walk on the moon, retired in 1971. Since then he's focused on exploring the mind, physics, space aliens and ways of linking religion with science.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.