1960s Events
1968
January 9
Surveyor 7 lands on the Moon and returns images of the surface.
March 1
At the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, President Lyndon B. Johnson announces the establishment of the Lunar Science Institute, to be operated by the Rice Institute and the National Academy of Science.
October 31
William W. Rubey is named as the first Director of the Lunar Science Institute.
December 21
Apollo 8, the first crewed flight to circumnavigate the Moon, launches with crew members Frank Borman, James Lovell Jr., and William Anders.
1969
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.
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.
November 19
Apollo 12 launches. The module lands within 183 meters of the Surveyor III spacecraft.
