2000
January 1
David Black is named President and CEO of USRA.
February
Origin of the Earth and Moon is published. This book marks the first volume in the Space Science Series produced under the new collaborative agreement between LPI and the University of Arizona Press.
July 9–12
Catastrophic Events and Mass Extinctions: Impacts and Beyond is held at the University of Vienna. Co-sponsored by LPI, the conference is the fourth of an informal series of meetings on mass extinctions, global catastrophes, geological (and biological) implications of impact events, and related investigations to discuss studies of the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary.
July 18–20
The Workshop on Concepts and Approaches for Mars Exploration is held at the LPI. The intent of the workshop is to provide an open forum for presentation, discussion, and consideration of various concepts, options, and innovations associated with a strategy for Mars exploration.
November 8–10
The Space Resources Utilization Roundtable II is held at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. The goal of the Space Resources Roundtable is to advance the prospects for the commercial development of space resources through information exchange between personnel in government, academic, and commercial organizations.
December 11–12
The Near-Earth Asteroid Sample Return Workshop is held at the LPI. The purpose of this workshop is to bring together people of highly diverse backgrounds so they can identify the scientific issues best addressed by sample return from near-Earth asteroids.