1969

 

March 3
Apollo 9, the first test of a crewed Lunar Module, is launched into Earth orbit.

 

March 12
The Universities Space Research Association is incorporated under agreement between the National Academy of Science and NASA.

 

May 1
The first Visiting Scientist, S. Ross Taylor of the Australian National University, arrives at the Institute. His work is on the trace element chemistry of the lunar surface.

 

May 18–26
Apollo 10 orbits the Moon. The Lunar Module descends to 14.5 km above the lunar surface.

 

July
Harold C. Urey is appointed as the first Senior Visiting Scientist.

 

July 16
Apollo 11, the first lunar landing mission, is launched with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Armstrong and Aldrin walk on the Moon while Collins orbits in the command module.

 

July 31
Mariner 6 returns images from Mars.

 

August
The first LSI symposium is held. Geophysical Interpretation of the Moon is the initial meeting of 15 scientists for the explicit purpose of interpreting the existing data on the geophysics of the Moon.

 

September 18
The Lunar Science Institute Seminar series is established with Gerard P. Kuiper as the first featured speaker..

 

September 19
The first LSI contribution number is assigned to a paper by Harold Urey published in Science.

 

November 19
Apollo 12 launches. The module lands within 183 meters of the Surveyor III spacecraft.

 

December 11
USRA assumes management of the Lunar Science Institute under contract to NASA.