List of missions to the Moon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from List of lunar missions)

A replica of Luna 9, the first spacecraft to land on the Moon
The first image taken of the far side of the Moon, returned by Luna 3

As part of human exploration of the Moon, numerous space missions have been undertaken to study Earth's natural satellite. Of the Moon landings, Luna 2 of the Soviet Union was the first spacecraft to reach its surface successfully,[1] intentionally impacting the Moon on 13 September 1959. In 1966, Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to achieve a controlled soft landing,[2] while Luna 10 became the first mission to enter orbit, and in 1968 Zond 5 became the first mission to carry lifeforms (tortoises) to close proximity of the Moon.

Between 1968 and 1972, crewed missions to the Moon were conducted by the United States as part of the Apollo program. Apollo 8 was the first crewed mission to enter orbit in December 1968, and it was followed by Apollo 10 in May 1969. Six missions landed humans on the Moon, beginning with Apollo 11 in July 1969, during which Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon. Apollo 13 was intended to land; however, it was restricted to a flyby due to a malfunction aboard the spacecraft. All nine crewed missions returned safely to the Earth.

While the United States focused on the crewed Apollo program, the Soviet Union conducted uncrewed missions that deployed rovers and returned samples to the Earth. Three rover missions were launched, of which two were successful, and eleven sample return flights were attempted with three successes.

Missions to the Moon have been conducted by the following nations and organisations (in chronological order): the Soviet Union, the United States, Japan, the European Space Agency, China, India, Luxembourg, Israel, Italy, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and Mexico. The Moon has also been visited by five spacecraft not dedicated to studying it; four spacecraft have flown past it to gain gravity assistance, and a radio telescope, Explorer 49, was placed into selenocentric orbit in order to use the Moon to block interference from terrestrial radio sources.

20th century[edit]

Legend

Cubesat or similar

Mission Spacecraft Launch date Carrier rocket Operator Mission type Outcome
1 Pioneer 0

(Able I)[3]

Pioneer 0 17 August 1958 Thor DM-18 Able I[3] United States USAF Orbiter Launch failure
First attempted launch beyond Earth orbit; failed to orbit due to turbopump gearbox malfunction resulting in first-stage explosion.[3] Reached apogee of 16 kilometres (10 mi).[4]
2 Luna E-1 No.1 Luna E-1 No.1 23 September 1958 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Launch failure
Failed to orbit; rocket disintegrated due to excessive vibration.[3][5]
3 Pioneer 1

(Able II)[3]

Pioneer 1 11 October 1958 Thor DM-18 Able I[3] United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit; premature second-stage cutoff due to accelerometer failure. Later known as Pioneer 1.[3] Reached apogee of 113,800 kilometres (70,700 mi).[6]
4 Luna E-1 No.2 Luna E-1 No.2 11 October 1958 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Launch failure
Failed to orbit; carrier rocket exploded due to excessive vibration.[3][5]
5 Pioneer 2

(Able III)

Pioneer 2 8 November 1958 Thor DM-18 Able I United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit; premature second-stage cutoff due to erroneous command by ground controllers; third stage failed to ignite due to broken electrical connection.[3] Reached apogee of 1,550 kilometres (960 mi).[7]
6 Luna E-1 No.3 Luna E-1 No.3 4 December 1958 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Launch failure
Failed to orbit; seal failure in hydrogen peroxide pump cooling system resulted in core-stage underperformance.[3][5]
7 Pioneer 3 Pioneer 3 6 December 1958 Juno II United States NASA Flyby Launch failure
Failed to orbit; premature first-stage cutoff.[3] Reached apogee of 102,360 kilometres (63,600 mi).[8]
8 Luna 1

(E-1 No.4)

Luna 1 2 January 1959 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Partial failure
Carrier rocket guidance problem resulted in failure to impact Moon, flew past in a heliocentric orbit.[9] Closest approach 5,995 kilometres (3,725 mi) on 4 January.[10] First spacecraft to fly by the Moon.
9 Pioneer 4 Pioneer 4 3 March 1959 Juno II United States NASA Flyby Partial failure
Second-stage overperformance resulted in flyby at greater altitude than expected, out of instrument range, with 58,983 kilometres (36,650 mi) of distance.[9] Closest approach at 22:25 UTC on 4 March. First U.S. spacecraft to leave Earth orbit.[11]
10 E-1A No.1 E-1A No.1 18 June 1959 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Launch failure
Failed to orbit; guidance system malfunction.[9]
11 Luna 2

(E-1A No.2)

Luna 2 12 September 1959 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Success
Successful impact at 21:02 on 14 September 1959. First spacecraft to reach lunar surface.[12] The impact made the Soviet Union the 1st country to reach the surface of the Moon.
12 Luna 3

(E-2A No.1)

Luna 3 4 October 1959 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Flyby Success
Returned first images of the far side of the Moon.[13]
13 Pioneer P-3

Able IVB

Pioneer P-3 26 November 1959 Atlas-D Able United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit;[14] payload fairing disintegrated due to design fault.[9]
14 Luna E-3 No.1 Luna E-3 No.1 15 April 1960 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Flyby Launch failure
Failed to orbit; premature third-stage cutoff.[15]
15 Luna E-3 No.2 Luna E-3 No.2 16 April 1960 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Flyby Launch failure
Failed to orbit; rocket disintegrated ten seconds after launch.[15]
16 Pioneer P-30

(Able VA)

Pioneer P-30 25 September 1960 Atlas-D Able United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit; second-stage oxidizer system malfunction resulting in premature cutoff.[16][15]
17 Pioneer P-31

(Able VB)

Pioneer P-31 15 December 1960 Atlas-D Able United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit, exploded 68 seconds after launch, at an altitude of 12.2 kilometres (7.6 mi). Second stage ignited while first stage was still attached and burning.[17][15]
18 Ranger 3

(P-34)

Ranger 3 26 January 1962 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Spacecraft failure
Ranger 3 lander Lander Spacecraft failure
Partial launch failure due to guidance problem; attempt to correct using spacecraft's engine resulted in it missing the Moon by 36,793 kilometres (22,862 mi).[18][19]
19 Ranger 4

(P-35)

Ranger 4 23 April 1962 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Spacecraft failure
Ranger 4 lander Lander Spacecraft failure
Failed to deploy solar panels, ran out of power ten hours after launch; incidental impact on the far side of the Moon on 26 April. First spacecraft to impact the far side of the Moon.[18][20]

The impact made the United States the 2nd country to reach the surface of the Moon.

20 Ranger 5

(P-36)

Ranger 5 18 October 1962 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Spacecraft failure
Ranger 5 lander Lander Spacecraft failure
Solar panels erroneously disengaged from power system, failed 8+34 hours after launch when batteries were depleted.[18] Missed the Moon as course correction was not completed.[21]
21 Luna E-6 No.2 Luna E-6 No.2 4 January 1963 Molniya-L Soviet Union OKB-1 Lander Launch failure
Failed to depart Low Earth orbit;[22] guidance system power failure prevented upper-stage ignition.[23]
22 Luna E-6 No.3 Luna E-6 No.3 3 February 1963 Molniya-L Soviet Union OKB-1 Lander Launch failure
Failed to orbit; guidance failure.[23]
23 Luna 4

(E-6 No.4)

Luna 4 2 April 1963 Molniya-L Soviet Union OKB-1 Lander Spacecraft failure
Failed to perform mid-course correction,[23] remained in high Earth orbit until given escape velocity by orbital perturbation.[24]
24 Ranger 6

(P-54)

Ranger 6 30 January 1964 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Spacecraft failure
Impacted on 2 February 1964, failed to return images due to power system failure.[25][26]
25 Luna E-6 No.6 Luna E-6 No.6 21 March 1964 Molniya-M Soviet Union OKB-1 Lander Launch failure
Failed to orbit; third stage underperformed due to oxidiser valve failure.[25]
26 Luna E-6 No.5 Luna E-6 No.5 20 April 1964 Molniya-M Soviet Union OKB-1 Lander Launch failure
Failed to orbit; power failure caused by broken connection resulted in premature third-stage cutoff.[25]
27 Ranger 7 Ranger 7 28 July 1964 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Success
Impacted on 30 July 1964 at 13:25:48 UTC.[27]
28 Ranger 8 Ranger 8 17 February 1965 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Success
Impacted on 20 February 1965 at 09:57:37 UTC.[28][29]
29 Kosmos 60

(E-6 No.9)

Kosmos 60 12 March 1965 Molniya-L Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Launch failure
Upper stage failed to restart due to guidance system short circuit,[28] Failed to depart low Earth orbit.[30]
30 Ranger 9 Ranger 9 21 March 1965 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Success
Impacted on 24 March 1965 at 14:08:20 UTC.[28][31]
31 Luna E-6 No.8 Luna E-6 No.8 10 April 1965 Molniya-L Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Spacecraft failure
Third stage failed to ignite due to loss of oxidiser pressure, failed to orbit.[28]
32 Luna 5

(E-6 No.10)

Luna 5 9 May 1965 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Spacecraft failure
Loss of control after gyroscope malfunction,[28] failed to decelerate for landing and impacted the Moon at 19:10 UTC on 12 May 1965.[32]
33 Luna 6

(E-6 No.7)

Luna 6 8 June 1965 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Spacecraft failure
Engine failed to shut down after performing mid-course correction manoeuvre,[28] flew past the Moon in a heliocentric orbit.[33]
34 Zond 3

(3MV-4 No.3)

Zond 3 18 July 1965 Molniya Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Success
Flew past the Moon on 20 July 1965 at a distance of 9,200 kilometres (5,700 mi).[34] Conducted technology demonstration for future planetary missions.[28]
35 Luna 7

(E-6 No.11)

Luna 7 4 October 1965 Molniya Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Spacecraft failure
Attitude control failure shortly before landing prevented controlled descent; impacted the lunar surface 22:08:24 UTC on 7 October 1965.[28][35]
36 Luna 8

(E-6 No.12)

Luna 8 3 December 1965 Molniya Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Spacecraft failure
Landing airbag punctured, resulting in loss of attitude control shortly before planned touchdown,[28] impacted Moon on 6 December 1965 at 21:51:30 UTC.[36]
37 Luna 9

(E-6 No.13)

Luna 9 31 January 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Success
First spacecraft to land successfully on the Moon. Touchdown on 3 February 1966 at 18:45:30 UTC.[37] Returned data until 6 February at 22:55 UTC.[38]
38 Kosmos 111

(E-6S No.204)

Kosmos 111 1 March 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Launch failure
Upper stage lost attitude control and failed to ignite;[38] spacecraft never left low Earth orbit.[39]
39 Luna 10

(E-6S No.206)

Luna 10 31 March 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Success
Entered orbit at 18:44 UTC on 3 April 1966, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit the Moon.[40] Continued to return data until 30 May.[38]
40 Surveyor 1 Surveyor 1 30 May 1966 Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Success
Landed in Oceanus Procellarum on 2 June 1966 at 06:17:36 UTC.[38] Returned data until loss of power on 13 July.[41]
41 Explorer 33

(AIMP-D)

Explorer 33 1 July 1966 Delta E1 United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Magnetospheric probe; rocket imparted greater velocity than had been planned, leaving spacecraft unable to enter orbit.[38] Repurposed for Earth orbit mission which was completed successfully.[42]
42 Lunar Orbiter 1 Lunar Orbiter 1 10 August 1966 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D United States NASA Orbiter Partial failure
Orbital insertion at around 15:36 UTC on 14 August. Deorbited early due to lack of fuel and to avoid communications interference with the next mission, impacted the Moon at 13:30 UTC on 29 October 1966.[43]
43 Luna 11

(E-6LF No.101)

Luna 11 21 August 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Partial failure
Entered orbit on 28 August 1966. Failed to return images; other instruments operated correctly.[38] Conducted gamma ray and X-ray observations to study the composition of the Moon, investigated the lunar gravitational field, the presence of meteorites in the lunar environment and the radiation environment at the Moon.

Ceased operation on 1 October 1966 after power was depleted.[44]

44 Surveyor 2 Surveyor 2 20 September 1966 Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Spacecraft failure
One thruster failed to ignite during mid-course correction manoeuvre, resulting in loss of control.[38] Impacted the Moon at 03:18 UTC on 23 September 1966.[45]
45 Luna 12

(E-6LF No.102)

Luna 12 22 October 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Success
Entered orbit on 25 October 1966 and returned data until 19 January 1967.[46] Completed photography mission intended for Luna 11.[38]
46 Lunar Orbiter 2 Lunar Orbiter 2 6 November 1966 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D United States NASA Orbiter Success
Entered orbit at about 19:51 UTC on 10 November 1966 to begin photographic mapping mission. Impacted on the far side of the lunar surface following deorbit burn on 11 October 1967 at end of mission.[47]
47 Luna 13

(E-6M No.205)

Luna 13 21 December 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Success
Successfully landed in Oceanus Procellarum at 18:01 UTC on 24 December 1966.[38] Returned images from the surface and studied the lunar soil.[48] Operated until depletion of power at 06:31 UTC on 28 December.[38]
48 Lunar Orbiter 3 Lunar Orbiter 3 5 February 1967 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D United States NASA Orbiter Success
Entered orbit at 21:54 UTC on 8 February 1967. Deorbited at end of mission and impacted the Moon on 9 October 1967.[49]
49 Surveyor 3 Surveyor 3 17 April 1967 Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Success
Landed at 00:04 UTC on 20 April 1967 and operated until 3 May.[50][51] Visited by Apollo 12 astronauts in 1969, with some parts removed for return to Earth.[52]
50 Lunar Orbiter 4 Lunar Orbiter 4 4 May 1967 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D United States NASA Orbiter Success
Entered orbit at 21:54 UTC on 8 May 1967, operated until 17 July. Decayed from orbit, with lunar impact occurring on 6 October 1967.[50][53]
51 Surveyor 4 Surveyor 4 14 July 1967 Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Spacecraft failure
Contact with spacecraft lost at 02:03 UTC on 17 July, two and a half minutes before scheduled landing.[50] NASA determined that the spacecraft may have exploded, otherwise it impacted the Moon.[54]
52 Explorer 35
(AIMP-E)
Explorer 35
(AIMP-E)
19 July 1967 Delta E1 United States NASA Orbiter Success
Magnetospheric probe, studying the Moon and interplanetary space. Deactivated on 27 June 1973.[55] Presumed to have impacted the Moon during the 1970s.[56]
53 Lunar Orbiter 5 Lunar Orbiter 5 1 August 1967 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D United States NASA Orbiter Success
Final mission in the Lunar Orbiter series, entered selenocentric orbit on 5 August at 16:48 UTC and conducted a photographic survey until 18 August. Deorbited and impacted the Moon on 31 January 1968.[57]
54 Surveyor 5 Surveyor 5 8 September 1967 Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Success
Landed in Mare Tranquillitatis at 00:46:44 UTC on 11 September. Last signals received at 04:30 UTC on 17 December 1967.[58]
55 Soyuz 7K-L1 No.4L Soyuz 7K-L1 No.4L 27 September 1967 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Spacecraft failure
Technology demonstration for planned crewed missions. Failed to reach orbit after a blocked propellant line caused one of the first-stage engines to not ignite.[50]
56 Surveyor 6 Surveyor 6 7 November 1967 Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Success
Landed in Sinus Medii at 01:01:04 UTC on 10 November.[50] Made brief flight from lunar surface at 10:32 UTC on 17 November, followed by second landing after travelling 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in). Last contact at 19:14 UTC on 14 December.[59]
57 Soyuz 7K-L1 No.5L Soyuz 7K-L1 No.5L 22 November 1967 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Launch failure
Technology demonstration for planned crewed missions; unable to achieve orbit after second-stage engine failed to ignite.[50]
58 Surveyor 7 Surveyor 7 7 January 1968 Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Success
Final Surveyor mission.[60] Landed 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Tycho crater at 01:05:36 UTC on 10 January. Operated until 21 February 1968.[61]
59 Luna E-6LS No.112 Luna E-6LS No.112 7 February 1968 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit after third stage ran out of fuel.[61]
60 Luna 14

(E-6LS No.113)

Luna 14 7 April 1968 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Success
Tested communications for proposed crewed missions and studied the mass concentration of the Moon. Entered orbit on 10 April at 19:25 UTC.[62]
61 Soyuz 7K-L1 No.7L Soyuz 7K-L1 No.7L 22 April 1968 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Launch failure
Technology demonstration for planned crewed missions. Failed to orbit after second-stage engine incorrectly commanded to shut down. Spacecraft was recovered using its prototype launch escape system.[61]
62 Zond 5

(7K-L1 No.9L)

Zond 5 14 September 1968 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Success
Two tortoises and other life forms on board a technology demonstration for planned crewed missions. Made a closest approach of 1,950 kilometres (1,210 mi) on 18 September, and circled the Moon before returning to Earth. Landed in the Indian Ocean on 21 September at 16:08 UTC, becoming the first Lunar spacecraft to be recovered successfully and carried the first Earth life to travel to and around the Moon.[63]
63 Zond 6

(7K-L1 No.12L)

Zond 6 10 November 1968 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Spacecraft failure
Technology demonstration for planned crewed missions. Carrying turtles, making this the second mission of Earthlings to travel in close proximity of the Moon, the flyby was on 14 November with a closest approach of 2,420 kilometres (1,500 mi).[64] Reentered Earth's atmosphere on 17 November; recovery was unsuccessful after parachutes were prematurely jettisoned.[61]
64 Apollo 8 Apollo 8 21 December 1968 Saturn V United States NASA Crewed orbiter Success
First crewed mission to the Moon; entered orbit around the Moon with four-minute burn beginning at 09:59:52 UTC on 24 December. Completed ten orbits of the Moon before returning to Earth with an engine burn at 06:10:16 UTC on 25 December. Landed in the Pacific Ocean at 15:51 UTC on 27 December.[65]
65 Soyuz 7K-L1 No.13L Soyuz 7K-L1 No.13L 20 January 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Launch failure
Technology demonstration for planned crewed missions. Failed to orbit after one of the four second-stage engines shut down prematurely. Third-stage engine also shut down prematurely. The spacecraft was recovered using its launch escape system.[66]
66 Luna E-8 No.201 Luna E-8 No.201 19 February 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Launch failure
Lunokhod Rover Launch failure
First launch of the Lunokhod rover. Launch vehicle disintegrated 51 seconds after launch and exploded.[67]
67 Soyuz 7K-L1S No.3 Soyuz 7K-L1S No.3 21 February 1969 N1 Soviet Union OKB-1 Orbiter Launch failure
First launch of N1 rocket; intended to orbit the Moon and return to Earth. First stage prematurely shut down 70 seconds after launch; launch vehicle crashed 50 kilometres (31 mi) from launch site. Spacecraft landed some 35 kilometres (22 mi) from the launch pad after successfully using its launch escape system.[67]
68 Apollo 10 Apollo 10 18 May 1969 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Success
Lunar Module Snoopy Orbiter Success
Dress rehearsal for Apollo 11. Lunar Module with two astronauts on board descended to a distance of 14.326 kilometres (8.902 mi) above the lunar surface.[68]
69 Luna E-8-5 No.402 Luna E-8-5 No.402 14 June 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Launch failure
Luna E-8-5 No.402 return craft Sample Return Launch failure
Intended to land on the Moon and return lunar soil sample. Did not reach Earth orbit after fourth stage failed to ignite.[66]
70 Soyuz 7K-L1S No.5 Soyuz 7K-L1S No.5 3 July 1969 N1 Soviet Union OKB-1 Orbiter Launch failure
Intended to orbit the Moon and return to Earth. All first-stage engines shut down 10 seconds after launch; launch vehicle crashed and exploded on the launch pad. Spacecraft landed safely 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the launch site after using launch escape sequence.[67]
71 Luna 15

(E-8-5 No.401)

Luna 15 13 July 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Spacecraft failure
Luna 15 return craft Sample Return Launch failure
Reached lunar orbit at 10:00 UTC on 17 July. Descent retro-rocket burn started at 15:47 UTC on 21 July. Contact lost three minutes after de-orbit burn; probably crashed on the Moon.[67]
72 Apollo 11 Apollo 11 16 July 1969 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Success
Lunar Module Eagle Lander/Launch Vehicle Success
First crewed landing on the Moon. The Lunar Module Eagle landed at 20:17 UTC on 20 July 1969.
73 Zond 7

(7K-L1 No.11L)

Zond 7 7 August 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Success
Technology demonstration for planned crewed missions. Carried four turtles in a lunar flyby on 10 August, with a closest approach of 1,200 kilometres (750 mi); returned to Earth and landed in Kazakhstan at 18:13 UTC on 14 August.[67]
74 Kosmos 300

(E-8-5 No.403)

Kosmos 300 23 September 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Launch failure
Kosmos 300 return craft Sample return Launch failure
Third attempt at lunar sample return. After reaching low Earth orbit, the fourth-stage engine failed to fire for trans-lunar injection due to oxidiser leak. Spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere about 4 days after launch.[67]
75 Kosmos 305

(E-8-5 No.404)

Kosmos 305 22 October 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Launch failure
Kosmos 305 return craft Sample Return Launch failure
Fourth attempt at lunar sample return. After reaching low Earth orbit, the fourth-stage engine failed to fire for trans-lunar injection due to control system malfunction. Spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere within one orbit after launch.[67]
76 Apollo 12 Apollo 12 14 November 1969 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Success
Lunar Module Intrepid Lander/Launch Vehicle Success
Second crewed lunar landing.
77 Luna E-8-5 No.405 Luna E-8-5 No.405 6 February 1970 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Launch failure
Luna E-8-5 No.405 return craft Sample return Launch failure
Failed to orbit
78 Apollo 13 Apollo 13 11 April 1970 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Spacecraft failure
Lunar Module Aquarius Rescue mission Success
Lunar landing aborted following Service Module oxygen tank explosion en route to the Moon; flew past the Moon (free-return trajectory) and returned the crew safely to Earth.
79 Luna 16

(E-8-5 No.406)

Luna 16 12 September 1970 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Success
Luna 16 return craft Sample return Success
First robotic sampling mission.
80 Zond 8

(7K-L1 No.14L)

Zond 8 20 October 1970 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Success
Technology demonstration for planned crewed missions; returned to Earth successfully.
81 Luna 17

(E-8 No.203)

Luna 17 10 November 1970 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Success
Lunokhod 1 Rover Success
Luna 17 deployed Lunokhod 1.
82 Apollo 14 Apollo 14 31 January 1971 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Success
Lunar Module Antares Lander/Launch Vehicle Success
Third crewed lunar landing.
83 Apollo 15 Apollo 15 26 July 1971 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Success
Lunar Module Falcon Lander/Launch Vehicle Success
Lunar Roving Vehicle Rover Success
Fourth crewed lunar landing, and first to use the Lunar Roving Vehicle.
84 PFS-1 PFS-1 26 July 1971 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Success
PFS-1 was deployed from Apollo 15.
85 Luna 18

(E-8-5 No.407)

Luna 18 2 September 1971 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Spacecraft failure
Luna 18 return craft Sample return Spacecraft failure
Failed during descent to lunar surface.
86 Luna 19

(E-8LS No.202)

Luna 19 28 September 1971 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Success
Entered an orbit around the Moon on 2 October 1971 after two midcourse corrections on 29 September and 1 October.
87 Luna 20

(E-8-5 No.408)

Luna 20 14 February 1972 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Success
Luna 20 return craft Sample return Success
Luna 20 soft landed on the Moon in a mountainous area known as the Terra Apollonius (or Apollonius highlands) near Mare Fecunditatis (Sea of Fertility), 120 km from where Luna 16 had landed.
88 Apollo 16 Apollo 16 16 April 1972 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Success
Lunar Module Orion Lander/Launch Vehicle Success
Lunar Roving Vehicle Rover Success
5th crewed lunar landing.
89 PFS-2 PFS-2 16 April 1972 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Success
PFS-2 deployed from Apollo 16.
90 Soyuz 7K-LOK No.1 Soyuz 7K-LOK No.1 23 November 1972 N1 Soviet Union OKB-1 Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit; intended to orbit the Moon and return to Earth.
91 Apollo 17 Apollo 17 7 December 1972 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Success
Lunar Module Challenger Lander/Launch Vehicle Success
Lunar Roving Vehicle Rover Success
Sixth and last crewed lunar landing and last use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle; the orbiting command module included five mice.
92 Luna 21

(E-8 No.204)

Luna 21 8 January 1973 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Success
Lunokhod 2 Rover Success
Deployed Lunokhod 2.
93 Explorer 49

(RAE-B)

Explorer 49 10 June 1973 Delta 1913 United States NASA Orbiter Success
Radio astronomy spacecraft, operated in selenocentric orbit to avoid interference from terrestrial radio sources.
94 Mariner 10 Mariner 10 3 November 1973 Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1A United States NASA Flyby Success
Interplanetary spacecraft, mapped lunar north pole to test cameras.
95 Luna 22

(E-8LS No.206)

Luna 22 29 May 1974 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Success
Inserted into a circular lunar orbit on 2 June 1974
96 Luna 23

(E-8-5M No.410)

Luna 23 16 October 1975 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Partial failure
Luna 23 return craft Sample Return Precluded
Tipped over upon landing, precluding any sample return attempt. Functioned for three days on surface.
97 Luna E-8-5M No.412 Luna E-8-5M No.412 16 October 1975 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Launch failure
Luna E-8-5M No.412 return craft Sample Return Launch failure
Failed to orbit.
98 Luna 24

(E-8-5M No.413)

Luna 24 9 August 1976 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Success
Luna 24 return craft Sample Return Success
Entered orbit on 11 August 1976 and landed in Mare Crisium at 16:36 UTC on 18 August. Sample capsule launched at 05:25 UTC on 19 August and recovered 96+12 hours later.[69] Returned 170.1 grams (6.00 oz) of lunar regolith.[70] Final mission to the Moon from the Soviet Union.
99 ISEE-3

(ICE/Explorer 59)

ISEE-3 12 August 1978 Delta 2914 United States NASA Flyby Success
Five flybys in 1982 and 1983 en route to comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner.
100 Hiten

(MUSES-A)

Hiten 24 January 1990 Mu-3S-II Japan ISAS Orbiter Success
Hagoromo Orbiter Spacecraft failure
Designed for flyby, placed into selenocentric orbit during extended mission after failure of Hagoromo. Deorbited and impacted in USGS quadrangle LQ27 on 10 April 1993.[71] Hagoromo was deployed from Hiten. The impact made Japan the 3rd country to reach the surface of the Moon.
101 Geotail Geotail 24 July 1992 Delta II 6925 Japan United States ISAS/NASA Flyby Success
Series of flybys to regulate high Earth orbit.
102 WIND WIND 1 November 1994 Delta II 7925-10 United States NASA Flyby Success
Made two flybys on 1 December 1994 and 27 December 1994 to reach the Earth–Sun L1 Lagrangian point.
103 Clementine

(DSPSE)

Clementine 25 January 1994 Titan II (23)G Star-37FM United States USAF/NASA Orbiter Success
Completed Lunar objectives successfully; failed following departure from selenocentric orbit.
104 HGS-1 HGS-1 24 December 1997 Proton-K/DM3 United States Hughes Flyby Success
Communications satellite; made two flybys in May and June 1998 en route to geosynchronous orbit after delivery into wrong orbit.
105 Lunar Prospector

(Discovery 3)

Lunar Prospector 7 January 1998 Athena II United States NASA Orbiter Success
The mission ended on July 31, 1999
106 Nozomi

(PLANET-B)

Nozomi 3 July 1998 M-V Japan ISAS Flyby Success
Two flybys en route to Mars.

21st century[edit]

Legend

⚀ Cubesat or similar

Mission Spacecraft Launch date Carrier rocket Operator Mission type Outcome
107 WMAP WMAP 30 June 2001 Delta II 7425-10 United States NASA Flyby Success
Flyby on 30 July 2001 to reach the Earth–Sun L2 Lagrangian point.
108 SMART-1 SMART-1 27 September 2003 Ariane 5G European Union ESA Orbiter Success
Impacted Moon in USGS quadrangle LQ26 at end of mission on 3 September 2006. The impact made ESA member states the 4th to reach the surface of the Moon.
109 STEREO STEREO A 25 October 2006 Delta II 7925-10L United States NASA Flyby Success
STEREO B Success
Both component spacecraft entered heliocentric orbit on 15 December 2006.
110 ARTEMIS ARTEMIS P1 17 February 2007 Delta II 7925 United States NASA Orbiter Operational
ARTEMIS P2 Orbiter Operational
Two THEMIS spacecraft moved to selenocentric orbit for extended mission; entered orbit July 2011.
111 SELENE Kaguya 14 September 2007 H-IIA 2022 Japan JAXA Orbiter Success
Okina Orbiter Success
Ouna Orbiter Success
Deployed Okina and Ouna satellites. Kaguya and Okina impacted the Moon at end of mission.[72] Ouna completed operations on 29 June 2009[73] but remains in selenocentric orbit.
112 Chang'e 1 Chang'e 1 24 October 2007 Long March 3A China CNSA Orbiter Success
Impacted Moon in USGS quadrangle LQ21 on 1 March 2009, at end of mission. The impact made China the 6th country to reach the surface of the Moon.
113 Chandrayaan-1 Chandrayaan-1 22 October 2008 PSLV-XL C11 India ISRO Orbiter Success
Moon Impact Probe Impactor Success
Succeeded through mission. Orbit lasted 312 days, short of intended 2 years; However mission achieved most of its intended objectives. Terminated in 2009, remains in selenocentric orbit; discovered water ice on the Moon.[74] Moon Impact Probe was deployed from the orbiter. It successfully impacted Moon's Shackleton Crater in the USGS quadrangle LQ30 at 20:31 on 14 November 2008 releasing underground debris that could be analyzed by the orbiter for presence of water/ice. With this mission, India became the first to impact the Lunar south pole and the 5th nation to reach the lunar surface.
114 Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter 18 June 2009 Atlas V 401 United States NASA Orbiter Operational
Entered orbit on June 23, 2009
115 LCROSS LCROSS 18 June 2009 Atlas V 401 United States NASA Impactor Success
Observed impact of Centaur upper stage that launched it and LRO, then impacted itself. Impacts in USGS quadrangle LQ30.
116 Chang'e 2 Chang'e 2 1 October 2010 Long March 3C China CNSA Orbiter Success
Following completion of six month Lunar mission, departed selenocentric orbit for Earth–Sun L2 Lagrangian point[75] and subsequently flew by asteroid 4179 Toutatis for a close encounter with the asteroid at a distance of 3.2 kilometers and a relative velocity of 10.73 km/s.[76][77]
117 GRAIL Ebb

(GRAIL-A)

10 September 2011[78][79] Delta II 7920H United States NASA Orbiter Success
Flow

(GRAIL-B)

Orbiter Success
Impacted the Moon in USGS quadrangle LQ01 on 17 December 2012 at end of mission.[80]
118 LADEE LADEE 7 September 2013 Minotaur V United States NASA Orbiter Success
Mission ended on 18 April 2014, when the spacecraft's controllers intentionally crashed LADEE into the far side of the Moon.
119 Chang'e 3 Chang'e 3 1 December 2013 Long March 3B China CNSA Lander Operational
Yutu Rover Success
Entered orbit on 6 December 2013 with landing at 13:12 UTC on 14 December. Yutu rover was deployed from Chang'e 3.
120 Chang'e 5-T1 Chang'e 5-T1 23 October 2014 Long March 3C China CNSA Orbiter Operational
Chang'e 5-T1 Return Capsule Orbiter Success
Demonstration of re-entry capsule for Chang'e 5 sample-return mission at lunar return velocity. Orbiter may still be in lunar orbit.
121 Manfred Memorial Moon Mission Manfred Memorial Moon Mission 23 October 2014 Long March 3C Luxembourg LuxSpace Flyby / Impactor (post mission) Success
Attached to third stage of CZ-3C used to launch Chang'e 5-T1. Impacted the Moon on 4 March 2022. The impact made Luxembourg the 8th country to reach the surface of the Moon.
122 TESS TESS 18 April 2018 Falcon 9 Full Thrust United States NASA Flyby Success
Flyby on 17 May 2018 to designated high Earth orbit.[81]
123 Queqiao Queqiao relay satellite 21 May 2018 Long March 4C China CNSA Relay Satellite Operational
Entered designated Earth–Moon L2 orbit on 14 June in preparation of Chang'e 4 far-side lunar lander in December 2018.
124 Longjiang Longjiang-1 21 May 2018 Long March 4C China CNSA Orbiter Spacecraft failure
Longjiang-2 Orbiter Success
Launched on the same rocket as Queqiao. Longjiang-1 never entered Moon orbit,[82] while Longjiang-2 operated in lunar orbit until 31 July 2019, when it impacted the lunar surface.[83]
125 Chang'e 4 Chang'e 4 7 December 2018 Long March 3B China CNSA Lander Operational
Yutu-2 Rover Operational
First spacecraft to soft land on the far side of the Moon (South Pole–Aitken basin). Landed 3 January 2019 and deployed the Yutu-2 rover.[84][85] Cottonseeds sprouted in the lander in a biological experiment, the first plants to sprout on the Moon.[86]
126 Beresheet Beresheet 22 February 2019 Falcon 9 Israel SpaceIL Lander Spacecraft failure
First Israeli and first privately funded lunar lander mission. Technology demonstration. Instrumentation included a magnetometer and laser retroreflector.[87][88] Spacecraft crashed into the lunar surface after main engine failure during descent from lunar orbit phase.[89] The impact made Israel the 7th country to reach the surface of the Moon.
127 Chandrayaan-2 Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter 22 July 2019 LVM3 India ISRO Orbiter Operational
Vikram Lander Spacecraft failure
Pragyan Rover Precluded
Entered orbit on 20 August 2019. Lander separated from orbiter but crashed during a landing attempt on 6 September 2019, attributed to a software glitch. Both lander and rover were lost. Orbiter remained operational.[90]
128 Chang'e 5 Chang'e 5 Orbiter 23 November 2020 Long March 5 China CNSA Orbiter Operational
Chang'e 5 Lander Lander Success
Chang'e 5 Ascender Launch Vehicle Success
Chang'e 5 Returner Sample Return Success
First lunar sample return mission from China, which returned 1.731 kg (61.1 oz) of lunar samples on 16 December 2020. The orbiter received a mission extension and is currently in a distant retrograde orbit (DRO) of the Moon.[91]
129 CAPSTONE CAPSTONE 28 June 2022[92] Electron United States NASA Orbiter Operational
Lunar orbiting CubeSat that will test and verify the calculated orbital stability planned for the Gateway space station.
130 Danuri Danuri 4 August 2022[92] Falcon 9 South Korea KARI Orbiter[93][94] Operational
Lunar Orbiter by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) of South Korea. The orbiter, its science payload and ground control infrastructure are technology demonstrators. The orbiter will also be tasked with surveying lunar resources such as water ice, uranium, helium-3, silicon, and aluminium, and produce a topographic map to help select future lunar landing sites.
131 Artemis 1 Artemis 1 Orion MPCV CM-002 16 November 2022[95] SLS Block 1 United States NASA Orbiter Success
Uncrewed test of Orion spacecraft in lunar flyby and lunar Distant retrograde orbit.
132 LunaH-Map LunaH-Map 16 November 2022 SLS Block 1 United States NASA Orbiter Spacecraft failure
It was designed to search for evidence of lunar water ice inside permanently shadowed craters using its neutron detector.
133 Lunar IceCube Lunar IceCube 16 November 2022 SLS Block 1 United States NASA Orbiter Spacecraft failure
It was intended to use its infrared spectrometer to detect water and organic compounds in the lunar surface and exosphere.
134 ArgoMoon ArgoMoon 16 November 2022 SLS Block 1 Italy ASI Flybys Operational
It is designed to image the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage and will collect telemetry validating the nanotechnology on board the platform in the hostile environment of deep space.
135 LunIR LunIR 16 November 2022 SLS Block 1 United States Lockheed Martin Flyby Success
It is to flyby the Moon and collect its surface thermography.
136 Near-Earth Asteroid Scout Near-Earth Asteroid Scout 16 November 2022 SLS Block 1 United States NASA Flyby Spacecraft failure
It is a solar sail that will flyby a near-Earth asteroid.
137 EQUULEUS EQUULEUS 16 November 2022 SLS Block 1 Japan JAXA Flybys Operational
It will image the Earth's plasmasphere, impact craters on the Moon's far side, and small trajectory maneuvers near the Moon.
138 OMOTENASHI OMOTENASHI 16 November 2022 SLS Block 1 Japan JAXA Lander Spacecraft failure
It was a lunar surface probe attempting to semi-hard land using solid rocket motors. Carrier and solid motor was to impact. Communication failure occurred and the probe missed and flew by the Moon.
139 BioSentinel BioSentinel 16 November 2022 SLS Block 1 United States NASA Flyby Operational
CubeSat spacecraft on an astrobiology mission that will use budding yeast to detect, measure, and compare the impact of deep space radiation on DNA repair over long time beyond low Earth orbit.
140 CubeSat for Solar Particles CubeSat for Solar Particles 16 November 2022 SLS Block 1 United States NASA Flyby Spacecraft failure
CubeSat to orbit the Sun to study the dynamic particles and magnetic fields.
141 Team Miles Team Miles 16 November 2022 SLS Block 1 United States Fluid & Reason Flyby Success[96]
CubeSat that will demonstrate navigation in deep space using innovative plasma thrusters.
142 Hakuto-R Mission 1 Hakuto-R 11 December 2022 Falcon 9 Block 5 Japan ispace Lander Spacecraft failure
SORA-Q Japan Tomy/JAXA/Dodai Rover Precluded
Lunar lander technology demonstration.[97] Contact lost during final stage of landing and deemed a failure. Cause of failure determined to be a software bug associated with the altitude estimation system.[98]
143 Emirates Lunar Mission Rashid 11 December 2022 Falcon 9 Block 5 United Arab Emirates UAESA/MBRSC Rover Precluded
Lunar rover demonstration. Launched aboard ispace's Hakuto-R lander.[99] Lost with Hakuto-R. The impact made the United Arab Emirates the 9th country to reach the surface of the Moon.
144 Lunar Flashlight Lunar Flashlight 11 December 2022 Falcon 9 Block 5 United States NASA Flyby Spacecraft failure
Initially scheduled to be launched on the Artemis 1 mission, moved to a Falcon 9 Block 5 after not making it for the payload integration deadline. NASA announced later that it would not make its planned orbit or monthly flybys due to thruster issues.[100][101]
145 Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer 14 April 2023 Ariane 5 ECA European Union ESA Flyby En route
Will fly by the Moon in August 2024 en route to Ganymede.
146 Chandrayaan-3 Chandrayaan-3 14 July 2023 LVM3 India ISRO Orbiter Success
Vikram lander Lander Success
Pragyan rover Rover Success
Launched on 14 July 2023, Orbit insertion on 5 August 2023, Lander separated from propulsion module on 17 August 2023, landed on 23 August 2023, 12:32 UTC and deployed the Pragyan rover. First spacecraft to soft land near the lunar South Pole. Later during extended operations, the Propulsion Module returned to Earth's orbit.
147 Luna 25 Luna 25 10 August 2023 Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat Russia Roscosmos Lander Spacecraft failure
Launched on 10 August 2023, Orbital insertion on 16 August 2023, failed orbital maneuver on 19 August 2023 set the spacecraft on the crash course with the Moon's surface. Loss of communication was confirmed by Roscosmos on 20 August 2023. The impact made Russia the 10th country to reach lunar surface.
148 SLIM SLIM 6 September 2023 H-IIA Japan JAXA Lander Operational
LEV-1 Hopper Success
LEV-2 (Sora-Q) Japan Tomy / JAXA / Doshisha University Rover Success
Launched alongside XRISM as a co-passenger on 7 September 2023. Performed lunar swing-by, followed by lunar orbital insertion on 25 December 2023. SLIM landed intact and within 100 m of its target on 19 January 2024, 15:20 UTC, which met JAXA's criteria for a successful landing.[102] However, it had landed with incorrect attitude to orient solar panels towards the Sun, which led to temporary power loss until the Sun was in the right position. LEV-1 and LEV-2 were successfully deployed and landed separately from SLIM shortly before its own landing. LEV-1 conducted six hops on lunar surface.
149 Peregrine Mission One Peregrine 8 January 2024 Vulcan Centaur VC2 United States Astrobotic Technology Lander Spacecraft failure
Colmena × 5 Mexico UNAM Rovers Precluded
Iris United States CMU Rover Precluded
Part of CLPS. Peregrine lander's reaction thrusters' leak deemed the spacecraft uncontrollable for landing and it decayed in the Earth's atmosphere 10 days later.
150 IM-1 Nova-C Odysseus 14 February 2024 Falcon 9 B5 United States Intuitive Machines Lander Success
EagleCam United States ERAU Deployable camera Spacecraft failure
First Nova-C mission. First private spacecraft to soft land on the Moon. Payloads successfully delivered for NASA CLPS and for private customers. Though it landed successfully, one of the lander's legs broke upon landing and it tilted up on other side, 18° due to landing on a slope, but the lander survived and payloads are functioning as expected.[103] EagleCam was not ejected prior to landing. It was later ejected on 28 February but was not contacted after deployment. No data.[104]
151 DRO A/B DRO-A 13 March 2024 Long March 2C China CAS Relay Satellite Launch failure
DRO-B Relay Satellite Launch failure
Yuanzheng 1S upper stage failed to deliver spacecrafts into correct orbit. The satellites were intended to test Distant retrograde orbit.[105]
152 Queqiao-2 Queqiao-2 20 March 2024 Long March 8 China CNSA Relay Satellite Operational
Tiandu-1 China Deep Space Exploration Laboratory Orbiter Operational
Tiandu-2[106] Orbiter Operational
Relay satellite to support future missions of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program targeting south pole region.[107] Tiandu satellites are launched with them to test communications for future lunar satellite constellation technologies.[108]

Statistics[edit]

Map of soft landings on the lunar near side

Launches by decade[edit]

This is a list of 152 missions (including failed ones) to the Moon. It includes Flybys, Impact probes, orbiters, landers, rovers and crewed missions.

Launches to Moon
Decade
1950s
13
1960s
63
1970s
23
1980s
0
1990s
7
2000s
9
2010s
12
2020s
25

Mission milestone by country[edit]

This is a list of major milestones achieved by country. Recorded is the first spacecraft from each respective country to accomplish each milestone, to regardless of mission type or intended outcome. For example, Beresheet was not intended to be an impactor, but achieved that milestone incidentally.

Legend

  Milestone achieved
  Milestone not achieved
First to achieve

Country Flyby Orbit Impact Lander Rover Sample return Crewed landing
United States United States Pioneer 4, 1959 Lunar Orbiter 1, 1966 Ranger 4, 1962 Surveyor 1, 1966 Apollo 15, 1971 Apollo 11, 1969 Apollo 11, 1969 †
Soviet Union Soviet Union Luna 1, 1959 Luna 10, 1966 Luna 2, 1959 Luna 9, 1966 Lunokhod 1, 1970 Luna 16, 1970
China China Chang'e 5-T1, 2014 Chang'e 1, 2007 Chang'e 1, 2009 Chang'e 3, 2013 Yutu 1, 2013 Chang'e 5, 2020
India India Chandrayaan 3, 2023 Chandrayaan 1, 2008 MIP, 2008 Chandrayaan 3, 2023 Pragyan, 2023
Japan Japan Hiten, 1990 Hiten, 1993 Hiten, 1993 SLIM, 2024 LEV-1, 2024
Israel Israel Beresheet, 2019 Beresheet, 2019 Beresheet, 2019
Russia Russia Luna 25, 2023 Luna 25, 2023 Luna 25, 2023
ESA SMART-1, 2003 SMART-1, 2006
Luxembourg Luxembourg 4M, 2014 4M, 2022
South Korea South Korea Danuri, 2022
Italy Italy ArgoMoon, 2022
United Arab Emirates UAE Rashid, 2023 Rashid, 2023
Mexico Mexico Colmena, 2024

National surface statistics[edit]

Country To reach surface To soft land To return sample To land crew
Soviet Union Soviet Union 1st 1st 2nd
United States United States 2nd 2nd 1st 1st
Japan Japan 3rd 5th
ESA 4th
India India 5th 4th
China China 6th 3rd 3rd
Israel Israel 7th
Luxembourg Luxembourg 8th
United Arab Emirates UAE 9th
Russia Russia 10th

Missions by organization/company[edit]

Analysis of numbers of lunar missions
Country Agency
or company
Successful Partial
failure
Failure Success rate Operational
[clarification needed]
Total Total for
country
Soviet Union USSR Lavochkin 16 2 22 40% - 40 58
Energia 2 - 16 11.11% - 18
 USA NASA 37 2 14 67.27% 4 55 57
USAF 1 - 1 50% - 2
 Japan ISAS 2 - 2 50% - 4 8
JAXA 2 - 1 75% 1 4
 China CNSA 8 - 1 88.8% 6 9 10
CAS - 1 - 0% 0 1
 India ISRO 2 1 - 66.66% 2 3 3
Various member states ESA 1 - - 100% - 1 1
 Luxembourg LuxSpace 1 - - 100% - 1 1
South Korea South Korea KARI 1 - - 100% 1 1 1
 USA (private company) Lockheed Martin 1 - - 100% - 1 1
 USA (private company) Fluid & Reason 1 - - 100% - 1 1
 USA (private company) Astrobotic Technology - - 1 0% - 1 1
 USA (private company) Intuitive Machines 1 - - 100% 1 1 1
 USA (private university) ERAU - - 1 100% - 1 1
Italy Italy ASI 1 - - 100% - 1 1
 Israel SpaceIL - - 1 0% - 1 1
Russia Russia Roscosmos - - 1 0% - 1 1
United Arab Emirates UAE UAESA - - 1 0% - 1 1
 Japan (private company) ispace - - 1 0% - 1 1
 China (public university) Deep Space Exploration Laboratory 1 - - 100% 1 1 1

Future missions[edit]

There are several future lunar missions planned or proposed by various nations and organisations.

Funded and are under development[edit]

Robotic[edit]

Mission Spacecraft Launch date Carrier rocket Operator Mission type
Chang'e 6 Chang'e 6 Lander May 2024[109] Long March 5 China CNSA Lander
Chang'e 6 Orbiter Orbiter
Chang'e 6 Ascent Vehicle Ascent Vehicle
ICECUBE-Q[110] Pakistan SUPARCO Orbiter
First sample-return from the South Pole–Aitken basin on the far side of the Moon.[111] ICECUBE-Q will be Pakistan's first lunar mission.
Blue Ghost M1 Blue Ghost Lander Q3 2024[112] Falcon 9 B5 United States Firefly Aerospace Lander
Lunar lander, carrying NASA-sponsored experiments and commercial payloads to Mare Crisium.[113][114]
Griffin Mission 1[115] Griffin lander November 2024 Falcon Heavy United States Astrobotic Technology Lander
Will host the VIPER Rover.
VIPER[116] VIPER November 2024 Falcon Heavy United States NASA Rover
Will prospect for lunar resources in the south pole region, especially for water ice.
IM-2 Nova-C Q4 2024[117] Falcon 9 B5 United States Intuitive Machines Lander
Khon1 Relay Satellite
µNova Hopper
MAPP United States Lunar Outpost

Finland Nokia

Rover
AstroAnt[118] United States MIT Rover
Yaoki[119] Japan Dymon Rover
Second Nova-C. Payloads delivery for NASA's CLPS and for private customers.[120] MAPP and µNova will test a new Nokia lunar communication system.
SHERPA-ES mission[121] SHERPA-ES Q4 2024[117] Falcon 9 B5 United States Spaceflight Industries Gravity Assist
Lunar Trailblazer United States NASA Orbiter
Lunar flyby towards geostationary orbit, payload delivery.
Hakuto-R Mission 2 Hakuto-R 2024[122] Falcon 9 B5 Japan ispace Lander
Ispace rover Luxembourg Ispace Europe Rover
Rover for collecting lunar resources and other commercial payloads.
IM-3 Nova-C Q1 2025[117][123] Falcon 9 B5 United States Intuitive Machines Lander
Khon2 Relay Satellite
CADRE x3 United States NASA Rovers
Lunar Vertex United States NASAUnited States Lunar Outpost Rover
Third Nova-C. Payloads delivery for NASA's CLPS and for private customers.[120] Lunar Vertex mission.
Starship Demo mission Starship HLS 2025[124] Starship United States SpaceX Lander
Uncrewed demo mission of Starship HLS.
DESTINY+ DESTINY+ 2025[125] Epsilon S Japan JAXA Flyby
Lunar flyby toward asteroid 3200 Phaethon.
PPE and HALO[126] PPE NET 2025[124] Falcon Heavy United States NASA

United StatesNorthrop Grumman

Space station assembly
HALO
First two modules of Lunar Gateway.
Lunar Polar Exploration Mission LUPEX lander 2026[127] H3 India ISRO Lander
LUPEX rover Japan JAXA Rover
Lander and rover, part of Chandrayaan programme.[128]
Artemis 3 Starship HLS delivery Starship HLS 2026 Starship United States SpaceX Lander
Delivery of Starship HLS for Artemis 3 mission.
TBD (CLPS Lander)[129] Moon to Mars Initiative: Trailblazer (Roo-ver)[130] 2026 TBD Australia Australian Space Agency Rover
APEX 1.0 APEX 1.0 2026[131] TBD United States ispace U.S.

United States Draper

Lander
Lunar Relay Satellite 1[132] United States ispace U.S.

United States Blue Canyon Technologies

Relay Satellite
Lunar Relay Satellite 2[132] Relay Satellite
Lunar lander. ispace Mission 3, and mission CP-12 of the CLPS program.
Blue Ghost M2[133] Blue Ghost lander 2026 TBD United States Firefly Aerospace Lander
Elytra orbital vehicle Orbiter
Second mission of Firefly Aerospace, part of CLPS, includes 2 stage variant of blue ghost.
Lunar Pathfinder Lunar Pathfinder 2026 TBD European Union ESA Relay Satellite
Lunar communications satellite to support future lunar missions.
Chang'e 7 Chang'e 7 Orbiter 2026[134] Long March 5 China CNSA Orbiter
Chang'e 7 Lander Lander
Chang'e 7 Rover Rover
Chang'e 7 Hopper Hopper
Payloads include an orbiter, south pole lander, rover, and a mini flying probe to look for the presence of water-ice.[134]
Starship cargo mission Starship HLS 2026 Starship United States SpaceX Lander
First SpaceX lunar cargo mission, yet to be announced by SpaceX itself.
FLEX[135] FLEX 2026 Starship United States Astrolab Rover
Large Lunar rover, can accommodate cargo and 2 astronauts.
Astrobotic mission 3[136] TBA 2026 Falcon Heavy United States Astrobotic Lander
LunaGrid-Lite CubeRover Rover
Third lunar mission by Astrobotic, will land at lunar south pole. LunaGrid-Lite mission.
Canadian lunar rover mission Canadensys Lunar Rover 2026 TBD Canada Canadensys

Canada CSA

Rover
First Canadian lunar rover. Will fly as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative.[137]
ZeusX ZeusX service module Q4 2027 TBD Singapore Qosmosys Orbiter
ZeusX lunar lander Lander
LIBER Rover
First lunar landing attempt for Singapore, lander can carry up to 800 kg to lunar surface.
Luna 26 Luna 26 2027[138] Soyuz-2.1b / Fregat Russia Roscosmos Orbiter
Orbiter, part of the Luna-Glob programme.[139] Will scout for Luna 27 landing site.
Luna 27 Luna 27 2028[138] Angara A5 / Fregat Russia Roscosmos Lander
Lander, part of Luna-Glob programme.
Luna 27 (Backup) Luna 27 2028 Angara A5 / Fregat Russia Roscosmos Lander
Backup for Luna 27, will launch a few months after Luna 27.
Chang'e 8 Chang'e 8 Orbiter 2028[140] Long March 5 China CNSA Orbiter
Chang'e 8 Lander Lander
Chang'e 8 Rover Rover
Chang'e 8 Robot Hopper
South pole lander.[141] Testing technology for using local resources and manufacturing with 3D printing.[142]
SpaceX GLS-1[143] Dragon XL 2028 Falcon Heavy United States SpaceX Resupply vehicle
First resupply mission to Lunar Gateway.
Uncrewed Blue Moon Demo mission Blue Moon HLS 2028 New Glenn United States Blue Origin Lander
Cislunar Transporter 2028 New Glenn United States Lockheed Martin Transfer vehicle
Demo mission of Blue Moon lander system in preparation for crewed landing in 2029.
Artemis 4 Starship HLS delivery Starship HLS 2028 Starship United States SpaceX Lander
Delivery of Starship HLS for Artemis 4 mission.
Artemis 5 Blue Moon HLS delivery Blue Moon HLS 2028 New Glenn United States Blue Origin Lander
Cislunar Transporter 2028 New Glenn United States Lockheed Martin Transfer vehicle
Delivery of Blue Moon HLS for Artemis 5 mission.
Argonaut M1[144] Argonaut Lander 2030 Ariane 64 European Union ESA Lander
Robotic Lander system. Will act as resupply vehicle for future Moonbase.
Lunar Voyage 3[145][146] Mapp TBA TBA United States Lunar Outpost Rover
First fully commercial mission of Lunar Outpost MAPP program.

Crewed[edit]

Agency or company Name Spacecraft Launch date Launch vehicle Notes
United States NASA

Canada CSA

Artemis 2 Orion September 2025[124] SLS Block 1 Crewed test of the Orion spacecraft on a free-return trajectory around the Moon.
United States NASA Artemis 3 Orion, Starship HLS September 2026[124] SLS Block 1 Deliver the "first woman and next man" to the Moon.
United States SpaceX dearMoon project Starship 2020s[147] Starship Space tourism and art project; free-return trajectory and Earth re-entry of the Starship.
United States NASA Artemis 4 Orion, Starship HLS September 2028[148] SLS Block 1B First flight of Block 1B configuration. Deliver I-HAB and conduct second Artemis crewed lunar landing.
United States NASA Artemis 5 Orion, Blue Moon HLS September 2029[149] SLS Block 1B Crewed Gateway and Surface expedition. Delivery of ESPRIT and Lunar Terrain Vehicle.
United States NASA Artemis 6 Orion, TBD September 2030[149] SLS Block 1B Lunar landing with delivery of Crew and Science Airlock module.
China CNSA Chinese crewed lunar mission 1 Next-gen spacecraft, Crewed lander 2030[150] Long March 10 Two launches of the LM-10 to put a pair of astronauts on the Moon for a 6-hour stay.[107]

Proposed but full funding still unclear[edit]

Robotic[edit]

The following robotic space probe missions have been proposed but their full funding is unclear:

Agency or company Mission Name of spacecraft Proposed launch Notes
Canada GEC Doge-1[151] TBA 12U CubeSat, the mission is being paid for entirely with the cryptocurrency Dogecoin. First Canadian lunar mission.
Israel SpaceIL Beresheet 2[152] Orbiter 2025 One orbiter, Two landers.
Lander 1
Lander 2
Brazil Airvantis Garatéa-L 2025[153] Proposed lunar CubeSat, Partnership between UKSA and ESA.
Germany OHB

Israel IAI

LSAS lander 2025 proposed commercial lander, will rideshare with a Geostationary satellite.
United States Parsec Parsec lunar satellites 2025 Parsec lunar communication constellation.[154]
Turkey Turkish Space Agency AYAP-1 2026 Turkey will perform a hard landing on the Moon.
European Union ESA Lunar Meteoroid Impact Observer 2026 Proposed CubeSat to observe asteroid impacts on Far side of Moon.
Australia Australian Space Agency Lunar Trailblazer 2026 Under study for possible rover mission
Netherlands Delft University of Technology Lunar zebro 2026 Small swarming rover, radiation measurements
China CNSA

Russia Roscosmos

ILRS 1-5 2026 - 2035 5 crucial missions planned for comprehensive establishment of ILRS to complete the in-orbit and surface facilities
Turkey Turkish Space Agency AYAP-2 Lander 2028 Soft landing mission
Rover
India ISRO Chandrayaan-4 2028 Proposed Sample-return mission, part of Chandrayaan programme.
Russia Roscosmos Luna 28 2030[155] Proposed Sample-return mission, part of Luna-Glob program, may include small rover.
Russia Roscosmos Luna 29 Luna 29 Lander 2030s[138] Proposed Sample-return mission, part of Luna-Glob program, Will include Luna-Grunt rover.
Luna-Grunt rover
South Korea KARI Phase 2 of the Korean lunar exploration program 2030 [156] Lander and rover
Russia Roscosmos Zeus 2030 Nuclear Propelled Space Tug, might deliver payloads to the moon
United States NASA BOLAS TBD 2 tethered CubeSats on a very low lunar orbit.[157]
Canada Magellan Aerospace Autonomous Impactor for Lunar Exploration TBD Impactor for LEAP
United States NASA Lunar Crater Radio Telescope TBD Radio telescope made by 4 rovers
United States LiftPort Group Lunar space elevator TBD Creating a reusable, replaceable and expandable Lunar elevator to open up the resources present on the Moon
Czech Republic ESC Aerospace LVICE² TBD Measuring the concentration of micrometeorites[158]

Unrealized concepts[edit]

1960s[edit]

2010s[edit]

  • Resource Prospector – Concept by NASA of a rover that would have performed a survey expedition on a polar region of the Moon. It was canceled in April 2018.[160]
  • Indo-Russian joint mission – A joint mission between India and Russia for a robotic lander and rover was under development since 2007. Russia was supposed to develop the lander while India would develop an orbiter, a rover and launch the composite. However, with failure of Fobos-Grunt mission, Russia was unable to provide the lander in time and requested India to accept the delay and risk. The collaboration ended with India repurposing its orbiter towards Mars with its Mars Orbiter Mission in 2013.[161]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Why failure is the fuel for a trip to Moon". The Times of India. 11 September 2019. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Chandrayaan-2 landing: 40% lunar missions in last 60 years failed, finds Nasa report". Archived from the original on 8 September 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1958" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 17–19. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Pioneer 0". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Wade, Mark. "Luna E-1". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Pioneer 1". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 5 April 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Pioneer 2". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Pioneer 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1959" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 21–24. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Luna 1". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  11. ^ "Pioneer 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Luna 2". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  13. ^ "Luna 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 4 June 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  14. ^ "Pioneer P-3". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  15. ^ a b c d Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1960" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 25–27. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  16. ^ "Pioneer P-30". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  17. ^ "Pioneer P-31". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  18. ^ a b c Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1962" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 34–37. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  19. ^ "Ranger 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  20. ^ "Ranger 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  21. ^ "Ranger 5". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  22. ^ "Sputnik 25". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  23. ^ a b c Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1963" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 39–40. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  24. ^ "Luna 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  25. ^ a b c Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1964" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 41–45. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  26. ^ "Luna 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  27. ^ "Ranger 7". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 20 July 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1965" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 47–52. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  29. ^ "Ranger 8". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  30. ^ "Cosmos 60". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  31. ^ "Ranger 9". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  32. ^ "Luna 5". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  33. ^ "Luna 6". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  34. ^ "Zond 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  35. ^ "Luna 7". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  36. ^ "Luna 8". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  37. ^ "Luna 9". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1966" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 47–52. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  39. ^ "Cosmos 111". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  40. ^ "Luna 10". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  41. ^ "Surveyor 1". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  42. ^ "Explorer 33". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 14 February 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  43. ^ "Lunar Orbiter 1". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  44. ^ "Luna 11". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  45. ^ "Surveyor 2". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  46. ^ "Luna 12". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  47. ^ "Lunar Orbiter 2". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  48. ^ "Luna 13". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  49. ^ "Lunar Orbiter 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  50. ^ a b c d e f Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1967" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 47–52. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  51. ^ "Surveyor 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  52. ^ "Surveyor Lunar Spacecraft". Boeing. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  53. ^ "Lunar Orbiter 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  54. ^ "Surveyor 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  55. ^ "Explorer 35". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  56. ^ "Explorer 35". NASA. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  57. ^ "Lunar Orbiter 5". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  58. ^ "Surveyor 5". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  59. ^ "Surveyor 6". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  60. ^ "Surveyor 7". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  61. ^ a b c d Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1968" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 69–72. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  62. ^ "Luna 14". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  63. ^ "Zond 5". NASA Space Science and Data Coordinated Archive. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  64. ^ "Zond 6". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  65. ^ "Apollo 8". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 8 July 2009. Archived from the original on 20 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  66. ^ a b Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1969" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 73–80.
  67. ^ a b c d e f g Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1969" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 73–80. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  68. ^ "APOLLO 10 (AS-505)". Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  69. ^ Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1976" (PDF). Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000. Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 115–116. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  70. ^ "Luna 24". US National Space Science Data Center. Archived from the original on 14 May 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  71. ^ "Hiten". NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive (NSSDCA). Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  72. ^ "Japanese probe crashes into Moon". BBC. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  73. ^ "月周回衛星「かぐや(SELENE)」 – SELENE通信 – お知らせ" (in Japanese). JAXA. 30 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  74. ^ Varanasi, P.; Tompkins, S.; Taylor, L. A.; Sunshine, J.; Staid, M.; Runyon, C.; Petro, N.; Nettles, J.; Mustard, J. (23 October 2009). "Character and Spatial Distribution of OH/H2O on the Surface of the Moon Seen by M3 on Chandrayaan-1". Science. 326 (5952): 568–572. Bibcode:2009Sci...326..568P. doi:10.1126/science.1178658. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 19779151. S2CID 447133.
  75. ^ "China's Moon orbiter Chang'e-2 travels 1.5 km into outer space". The Economic Times. 30 August 2011. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  76. ^ Lakdawalla, Emily (14 December 2012). "Chang'e 2 imaging of Toutatis succeeded beyond my expectations!". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  77. ^ "Chang'e 2: The Full Story". The Planetary Society. 25 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  78. ^ Gold, Scott (11 September 2011). "After delay, GRAIL moon mission launches". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  79. ^ Harwood, William. "NASA launches GRAIL lunar probes". CBS News. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  80. ^ Blau, Patrick. "GRAIL Mission Design and Timeline". Spaceflight 101. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  81. ^ Trajectory Design Enhancements to Mitigate Risk for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) (PDF). ntrs.nasa.gov (Report). NASA. 13 September 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  82. ^ How China's lunar relay satellite arrived in its final orbit Archived 17 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Luyuan Xu, The Planetary Society. 15 June 2018.
  83. ^ @planet4589 (1 August 2019). "The Chinese Longjiang-2 (DSLWP-B) lunar orbiting spacecraft completed its mission on Jul 31 at about 1420 UTC, in a planned impact on the lunar surface" (Tweet). Retrieved 1 August 2019 – via Twitter.
  84. ^ Rincon, Paul (7 December 2018). "China mission launches to far side of Moon". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 December 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  85. ^ "China Makes Historic 1st Landing on Mysterious Far Side of the Moon". Space.com. 3 January 2019. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  86. ^ Bartels, Meghan; January 15, Space com Senior Writer |; ET, 2019 11:47am (15 January 2019). "Cotton Seed Sprouts on the Moon's Far Side in Historic First by China's Chang'e 4". Space.com. Retrieved 15 January 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  87. ^ Grush, Loren (21 February 2019). "Watch SpaceX launch a trio of spacecraft, including a lander bound for the Moon". The Verge. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  88. ^ "Beresheet". NASA Solar System Exploration. 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019..
  89. ^ Foust, Jeff (12 April 2019). "SpaceIL says "chain of events" led to crash of lunar lander". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  90. ^ "Lander Vikram located: K Sivan". www.aninews.in. Archived from the original on 8 September 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  91. ^ "China's Chang'e-5 orbiter is heading back to the moon". SpaceNews. 6 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  92. ^ a b Figliozzi, Gianine (8 June 2022). "CAPSTONE Mission Launch No Longer Targeting June 13". NASA. Archived from the original on 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  93. ^ "NASA Funds CubeSat Pathfinder Mission to Unique Lunar Orbit". NASA (Press release). 13 September 2019. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  94. ^ "Rocket Lab to Launch NASA Funded Commercial Moon Mission from New Zealand". Rocket Lab. 9 August 2021. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  95. ^ Foust, Jeff (11 November 2022). "NASA moving ahead with Nov. 16 Artemis 1 launch attempt". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  96. ^ "Happy to note that the Team Miles cubesat is alive and sending radio signals. NASA ground stations will be engaging in the next week or so". 9 December 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  97. ^ "ispace Begins Final Assembly of Lunar Lander Flight Model Ahead of First Mission". ispace. 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  98. ^ "ispace Announces Results of the "HAKUTO-R" Mission 1 Lunar Landing". ispace-inc. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  99. ^ "MBRSC Teams Up with Japan's ispace on Emirates Lunar Mission". ispace. 14 April 2021. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  100. ^ "NASA Eyes New Lunar CubeSat Orbit, Propulsion Challenges Continue – Small Satellite Missions". 8 February 2023.
  101. ^ "NASA gives up on tiny Lunar Flashlight probe's troubled moon ice mission". Space.com. 12 May 2023.
  102. ^ Jones, Andrew (25 January 2024). "Japan's SLIM achieved pinpoint moon landing with just one working engine". SpaceNews. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  103. ^ "NASA, Intuitive Machines Share Images from the Moon, Provide Science Updates – Artemis". blogs.nasa.gov. 28 February 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  104. ^ "2/3 mission plans and procedures in order to deploy its CubeSat camera system. Despite the team's strong effort, the technical complications ultimately resulted in an inability to capture images of the Odysseus lander".
  105. ^ Jones, Andrew (14 March 2024). "Surprise Chinese lunar mission hit by launch anomaly". SpaceNews. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  106. ^ "China advances lunar exploration programdate=April 25, 2023". Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  107. ^ a b Jones, Andrew (8 September 2022). "China's Moon Missions Shadow NASA Artemis's Pace". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  108. ^ "China launches signal relay satellite for mission to moon's hidden side". Reuters. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  109. ^ Jones, Andrew (10 January 2024). "China's Chang'e-6 probe arrives at spaceport for first-ever lunar far side sample mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  110. ^ "Mission overview and Design of Lunar CubeSat "ICUBE-Q" onboard Chang'E-6". researchgate (Press release). 25 April 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  111. ^ "China's Moon Missions Shadow NASA Artemis's Pace - IEEE Spectrum". spectrum.ieee.org.
  112. ^ Alamalhoadei, Aria (6 November 2023). "Firefly's Blue Ghost lander represents a big bet on a future lunar economy". TechCrunch. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  113. ^ "NASA Selects Firefly Aerospace for Artemis Commercial Moon Delivery in 2023". NASA (Press release). 4 February 2021. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  114. ^ "Lunar Lander". Firefly Aerospace. 1 February 2021. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  115. ^ "Astrobotic selects Falcon Heavy to launch NASA's VIPER lunar rover". SpaceNews. 13 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  116. ^ Loff, Sarah (23 October 2019). "New VIPER Lunar Rover to Map Water Ice on the Moon". NASA.
  117. ^ a b c Foust, Jeff (13 February 2024). "Intuitive Machines ready for launch of its first lunar lander". SpaceNews. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  118. ^ Johnson, Arianna. "MIT Will Return To The Moon For The First Time Since Apollo, Thanks To This Space Startup". Forbes.
  119. ^ Machines, Intuitive (5 January 2023). "Intuitive Machines Adds Commercial Lunar Rover to its Second Mission to the Moon". Intuitive Machines.
  120. ^ a b Kanayama, Lee (13 April 2020). "NOVA-C selects landing site, Masten gains CLPS contracts". NASASpaceFlight. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  121. ^ Foust, Jeff (27 September 2021). "Spaceflight offers lunar flyby rideshare mission".
  122. ^ "Key Updates for HAKUTO-R Announced as Mission 1 Lander Prepares to Enter Final Stage of Integration". ispace. 25 January 2022. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  123. ^ "Three-peat: Intuitive Machines Selects SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket for Third Moon Mission". Intuitive Machines (Press release). 10 August 2021. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  124. ^ a b c d Smith, Marcia (9 January 2024). "NASA Delays Next Artemis Missions to 2025 and 2026". SpacePolicyOnline. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  125. ^ Jones, Andrew (6 November 2023). "Japan's mission to bizarre asteroid Phaethon delayed to 2025". Space.com. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  126. ^ Potter, Sean (9 February 2021). "NASA Awards Contract to Launch Initial Elements for Lunar Outpost". NASA.
  127. ^ "ISRO to handhold private sector to create innovative space ecosystem in the country: S. Somanath, Chairman". Geospatial World. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022. We are working with JAXA on developing a payload, as well as a mission to go to moon. This will be launched using Japan's launch vehicle, but the spacecraft will be jointly developed by ISRO and Japan. A lander which will land on the moon. This will be after Chandrayaan 3 It will take three, four, five years to develop.
  128. ^ ISRO planning 7 interplanetary missions, Venus on the to-do list Archived 7 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Sidharth MP, DNA India. 18 May 2019.
  129. ^ "Moon to Mars Initiative: Trailblazer Stage 1". business.gov.au. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  130. ^ "Australia votes to name its 1st moon rover 'Roo-ver'". Space.com. 6 December 2023.
  131. ^ Foust, Jeff (29 September 2023). "Ispace revises design of lunar lander for NASA CLPS mission". SpaceNews. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  132. ^ a b Foust, Jeff (28 March 2024). "Japanese lunar lander company ispace raises $53.5 million in stock sale". SpaceNews. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  133. ^ "NASA selects Firefly Aerospace for mission to moon's far side in 2026". Space.com. 17 March 2023.
  134. ^ a b Jones, Andrew (28 November 2022). "China outlines pathway for lunar and deep space exploration". SpaceNews. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  135. ^ "A Big Rover Aims to Be Like 'UPS for the Moon'". Yahoo News.
  136. ^ "Astrobotic Purchases Falcon Heavy Launch Services". Astrobotic Technology. 25 April 2023.
  137. ^ "First Canadian rover to explore the Moon". CSA. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  138. ^ a b c "Ученый сообщил об активном ходе работ по импортозамещению комплектующих "Луны-27"" [The scientist reported on the active progress of work on import substitution of Luna-27 components]. TASS (in Russian). 19 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  139. ^ Russian Moon exploration program Archived 15 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Russian Research Institute (IKI). 2017.
  140. ^ Chen, Stephen (29 December 2021). "China speeds up moon base plan in space race against the US". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  141. ^ China's Deep Space Exploration Roadmap Archived 14 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine. 2018.
  142. ^ Jones, Andrew (29 December 2021). "China has moon's south pole in its sights with 3 missions launching this decade". Space.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  143. ^ Foust, Jeff (24 February 2023). "NASA plans to start work this year on first Gateway logistics mission".
  144. ^ Hiesinger, H.; Landgraf, M.; Carey, W.; Karouji, Y.; Haltigin, T.; Osinski, G.; Mall, U.; Hashizume, K.; Group, Heracles Science Working (2019). "HERACLES: An ESA-JAXA-CSA Joint Study on Returning to the Moon". 50th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2132): 1327. Bibcode:2019LPI....50.1327H.
  145. ^ "Missions". Lunar Outpost. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  146. ^ "4 fully-funded missions on the horizon". Twitter. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  147. ^ "#dearMoon". #dearMoon. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  148. ^ Foust, Jeff (13 March 2023). "NASA planning to spend up to $1 billion on space station deorbit module". SpaceNews. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  149. ^ a b Foust, Jeff (13 March 2023). "NASA planning to spend up to $1 billion on space station deorbit module".
  150. ^ Jones, Andrew (15 November 2021). "Chinese crewed moon landing possible by 2030, says senior space figure". SpaceNews. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  151. ^ "Will Geometric Energy Corporation and SpaceX Use Artificial Intelligence in the Doge-1 Mission to the Moon?". www.wicz.com.
  152. ^ Mark R. Whittington (12 February 2023). "Beresheet 2: The latest in America's inclusive return to the moon". The Hill.
  153. ^ "Conheça a Garatéa-L, missão que pretende levar o Brasil à Lua em 2025" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 10 August 2022. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  154. ^ "Parsec™ Service from Lockheed Martin". Lockheed Martin.
  155. ^ @katlinegrey (11 August 2023). "Yuri Borisov: Roscosmos plans to launch #Luna26 in 2027, Luna-27 - in 2028, and Luna-28 - in 2030 or later. After that, the next goal will be a crewed mission to the Moon" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  156. ^ https://www.korea.kr/news/policyNewsView.do?newsId=148885478 . Blue House, 문 대통령 "내년 달 궤도선·2030년 달 착륙…7대 우주강국 도약". 18 May 2021.
  157. ^ Bi-Sat Observations of the Lunar Atmosphere Above Swirls (BOLAS): Tethered SmallSat Investigation of Hydration and Space Weathering Processes at the Moon. (PDF) Stubbs, T. J.; Malphrus, B. K.; Hoyt, R., etal. 49th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference; 19–23 March 2018 at The Woodlands, Texas, USA.
  158. ^ "About the mission". esc Aerospace. 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  159. ^ Brian Harvey; Olga Zakutnyaya (2011). Russian Space Probes: Scientific Discoveries and Future Missions. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 211–. ISBN 978-1-4419-8150-9.
  160. ^ NASA scraps a lunar surface mission — just as it's supposed to focus on a Moon return Archived 3 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine Loren Grush, The Verge April 27, 2018
  161. ^ "How ISRO modified a lunar orbiter into Mars orbiter Mangalyaan, India's "Moon Man" recalls". Zee News. 25 October 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.

External links[edit]