* Formation of the Mohole Project Committee and planning for the project
* Development of drilling and coring techniques
* Design and construction of the drilling platform CUSS I
Phase II (1961-1963)
* Phase IIa drilling: Drilling of a borehole to a depth of 185 meters at a site south of Guadalupe Island
* Phase IIb drilling: Drilling of a borehole to a depth of 3,623 meters at a site southeast of Maui, Hawaii
Phase III (1963-1966)
* Phase III drilling: Planning for drilling of a borehole to the Earth's mantle at a site in the South Pacific Ocean
* Development of a new drilling platform, CUSS II
* Cancellation of the project due to lack of funding