Elbert King

Elbert A. King, Jr.
(Lunar scientist from the Warner Collection)

Lunar Work

Bert was a geologist at the University of Houston who specialized in meteorites. He trained Apollo astronauts and was the first curator of the Lunar Sample Laboratory. He wrote/edited two books 
  and published many scientific papers.
 
 

Where & When

Preliminary definitions of the lunar science program noted the importance of laboratory studies on returned lunar material, but offered no suggestions as to how samples should be collected and handled. Neither within nor outside NASA did anyone give serious thought to the details of preserving lunar samples in near-pristine condition until late 1963. Elbert A. King, Jr., and Donald A. Flory, two geoscientists who joined MSC's Space Environment Division that year, were among the first to propose action to protect valuable scientific information that could be lost unless the lunar samples were handled under carefully controlled conditions.
 
 

Personal Information

Photo

Warner #86

Birth

He was born in 1935. 
 

Death

Elbert King passed away on December 12, 1998 after a long illness. 
 
 

Education

Elbert King received Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from the University of Texas at Austin.  He received his doctorate from Harvard University. 
 

Current Contact Information/Websites

Publications

• E. A. King and D. A. Flory to Asst. Dir. for Engineering and Development, "Requirements for a Facility to Receive and Accomplish Initial Lunar Sample Investigation at MSC," July 7, 1964.
• Book: Chondrules and their Origins (1983) (editor)
• Book: Moon Trip - A Personal Account of the Apollo Program and its Science (1989),

Additional Information

• Dr. Elbert A. King, Jr., a prime mover in establishing the lunar receiving laboratory at Houston and first curator of lunar samples, announced he would resign to become head of the geology department at the University of Houston.
• Dr. Elbert A. King, Jr., was very active in research of tektite class meteorites.

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