On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took their first steps on the moon. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of that landmark event, CU Boulder is highlighting the stories of scientists and engineers from across the university who contributed to the first five decades of human space exploration鈥攁nd who are paving the way for future journeys to the moon and beyond. Learn more about the history of CU in space.

Explore

Fifty years after it was first laid out on the moon, the Laser Ranging Retroreflector experiment, the brainchild of JILA's James Faller, is still in use.

Podcast: Moon landing at 50

Author Charles Fishman talks about how the U.S. pulled off the feat of landing astronauts on the moon鈥攑lus moon rocks, lunar telescopes and more.听

A once-in-a-lifetime look at Apollo moon rocks

More than 50 years after humans first set foot on the moon, one CU Boulder researcher will gain access to a cache of never-before-studied lunar rocks.

听

Artificial gravity breaks free from science fiction

A technology once considered wildly impractical could help to keep astronauts healthy as they return to the moon and travel even farther.

An infrared close up of the moon

A new infrared camera will record听temperatures at the surface of the moon in more detail than ever before.听

Heading Back to the Moon (This Time, For Good)

Getting humans back to the moon is one thing. Jack Burns and other CU scientists are asking, "How can we stay?"

For the Media

Faculty experts from CU Boulder are available to discuss lunar science and exploration. To arrange an interview,听contact Daniel Strain, CU Boulder media relations, at听daniel.strain@colorado.edu:

Allison AndersonAllison Anderson
Assistant Professor, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Bioastronautics, human health in space

听

Bobby BraunBobby Braun
Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Science
Space policy, human space flight

听

Jack BurnsJack Burns
Professor, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences
Space policy, future moon missions

听

Carolyn CrowCarolyn Crow
Research Associate, Department of Geological Sciences
Moon rocks, lunar geology

听

Paul HaynePaul Hayne
Assistant Professor, and
Lunar geology, water on the moon

听

John KellerJohn Keller
Director, Fiske Planetarium
Astronomy, Apollo program

听

Phil LarsonPhil Larson
Assistant Dean,
Space policy, human spaceflight

Apollo Anniversary Events