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—and who are paving the way for future journeys to the moon and beyond. Learn more about the history of CU in space.
Explore
Video: Apollo 11's last working experiment on the moon
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—plus moon rocks, lunar telescopes and more.
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.
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 temperatures at the surface of the moon in more detail than ever before.
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, contact Daniel Strain, CU Boulder media relations, at daniel.strain@colorado.edu:
Allison Anderson
Assistant Professor, Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Bioastronautics, human health in space
Bobby Braun
Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Science
Space policy, human space flight
Jack Burns
Professor, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences
Space policy, future moon missions
Carolyn Crow
Research Associate, Department of Geological Sciences
Moon rocks, lunar geology
Paul Hayne
Assistant Professor, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences and Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Lunar geology, water on the moon
John Keller
Director, Fiske Planetarium
Astronomy, Apollo program
Phil Larson
Assistant Dean, College of Engineering and Applied Science
Space policy, human spaceflight