1972
January 10–13
The Third Lunar Science Conference, co-sponsored by LSI and NASA, moves from downtown Houston to the Manned Spacecraft Center.
March 2
Pioneer 10 is launched, returning the first close-up
images of Jupiter in 1973.
April 16–27
Apollo 16 is launched. The first "lunar Grand Prix" tests the capabilities of the lunar rover.
July 10
The Summer Study on Post-Apollo Lunar Science reviews the state of post-Apollo lunar science.
December 7
Apollo 17 is launched, the final mission of the Apollo program.
July
LSI acquires its first computer, a PDP 11/20.