List of missions to the Moon#Future missions
{{Short description|None}}
{{About|missions to the Moon|a list of each individual lunar probe|List of lunar probes}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Moon rocket|Rocket to the Moon (disambiguation){{!}}Rocket to the Moon}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
File:RIAN archive 510848 Interplanetary station Luna 1 - blacked.jpg was the first successful lunar programme, its Luna 1 (1959) being the first partially successful lunar mission]]
File:Luna 3 moon.jpg, returned by Luna 3 (1959)]]
Missions to the Moon have been numerous and include some of the earliest space missions, conducting exploration of the Moon since 1959.
The first partially successful lunar mission was Luna 1 (January 1959), the first probe to leave Earth and fly past another astronomical body. Soon after that the first Moon landing and the first landing on any extraterrestrial body was performed by Luna 2,{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/why-failure-is-the-fuel-for-a-trip-to-moon/articleshow/71077117.cms|title=Why failure is the fuel for a trip to Moon|website=The Times of India|date=11 September 2019 |access-date=11 September 2019|archive-date=19 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219143137/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/why-failure-is-the-fuel-for-a-trip-to-moon/articleshow/71077117.cms|url-status=live}} which intentionally impacted the Moon on 14 September 1959. The far side of the Moon, which is always facing away from Earth due to tidal locking, was seen for the first time by Luna 3 in (7 October 1959). In 1966, Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to achieve a controlled soft landing,{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/chandrayaan-2-landing-40-lunar-missions-in-last-60-years-failed-finds-nasa-report-1596620-2019-09-07|title=Chandrayaan-2 landing: 40% lunar missions in last 60 years failed, finds Nasa report|date=7 September 2019 |access-date=28 June 2022|archive-date=8 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908171320/https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/chandrayaan-2-landing-40-lunar-missions-in-last-60-years-failed-finds-nasa-report-1596620-2019-09-07|url-status=live}} while Luna 10 became the first mission to enter orbit, and in 1968 Zond 5 became the first mission to carry terrestrial lifeforms (tortoises) to close proximity of the Moon through a circumlunar approach.
The first crewed missions to the Moon were pursued by the Soviet Union and the United States, becoming the climax of the Space Race. While the Soviet Union shifted to robotic sample return missions, the American Apollo program proceeded successfully, with Apollo 8 becoming the first crewed mission to enter lunar orbit in December 1968. On 20 July 1969 Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, and Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon. At the same time another mission, the robotic sample return mission Luna 15 by the Soviet Union, was in orbit around the Moon, becoming together with Apollo 11 the first ever case of two extraterrestrial missions being conducted at the same time. Until 1972 crewed Apollo missions and until 1976 Soviet uncrewed sample return missions, with the first successful extraterrestrial rovers (Lunokhod programme), continued. After that no dedicated lunar missions were conducted until 1990. Since then the following nations and organisations (in chronological order) have visited the Moon, after the Soviet Union and the United States: Japan, the European Space Agency, China, India, Luxembourg, Israel, Italy, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, and Pakistan.
File:Chandrayaan3-landed.jpg's Chandrayaan-3 (2023) became the first lunar mission to achieve a soft landing near the lunar south pole]]
In 2018 the far side of the Moon was for the first time landed on by the Chang'e 4 mission at the Aitken basin on 3 January 2019 and deployed the Yutu-2 rover. Five years later, China followed with Chang'e 6 sample return mission to the far side whose lander successfully landed in Apollo crater on 1 June 2024 and collected lunar samples.
On August 23, 2023 12:34 UTC, India's Chandrayaan-3 became the first lunar mission to achieve a soft landing near the lunar south pole. The mission consisted of a lander and a rover for carrying out scientific experiments.
The Moon has also been visited by five spacecraft not dedicated to studying it; four of these spacecraft have flown past for the purpose of 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.
{{Wide image|Apollo Mission Flight Plan - 1967.jpg|1200|The first successful crewed lunar mission flight plan (Apollo Mission Flight Plan, 1967)}}
20th century
;Legend
⚀ Cubesat or similar{{sticky header}}
class="wikitable sticky-header" |
colspan="2"|Mission
!Launch date !Operator !Carrier rocket !Spacecraft !Mission type !Outcome |
---|
id="1950"
| rowspan="2" | 1 | rowspan="2" |Pioneer 0 |{{dts|17 August 1958}} |{{flagicon|USA|1912}} USAF |Pioneer 0 |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |First attempted launch beyond Earth orbit; failed to orbit due to turbopump gearbox malfunction resulting in first-stage explosion. Reached apogee of {{convert|16|km|0}}.{{cite web |title=Pioneer 0 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=ABLE1 |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=19 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219045826/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=ABLE1 |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 2
| rowspan="2" |Luna E-1 No.1 |{{dts|23 September 1958}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Luna |Impactor | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; rocket disintegrated due to excessive vibration.{{cite encyclopedia |title=Luna E-1 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Astronautica |url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/lunae1.htm |access-date=3 December 2013 |last=Wade |first=Mark |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222181555/http://www.astronautix.com/craft/lunae1.htm |archive-date=22 December 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}} |
rowspan="2" | 3
| rowspan="2" |Pioneer 1 |{{dts|11 October 1958}} |{{flagicon|USA|1912}} NASA |Pioneer 1 |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; premature second-stage cutoff due to accelerometer failure. Later known as Pioneer 1. Reached apogee of {{convert|113800|km}}.{{cite web |title=Pioneer 1 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1958-007A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=5 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405233448/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1958-007A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 4
| rowspan="2" |Luna E-1 No.2 |{{dts|11 October 1958}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Luna |Impactor | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; carrier rocket exploded due to excessive vibration. |
rowspan="2" | 5
| rowspan="2" |Pioneer 2 (Able III) |{{dts|8 November 1958}} |{{flagicon|USA|1912}} NASA |Pioneer 2 |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; premature second-stage cutoff due to erroneous command by ground controllers; third stage failed to ignite due to broken electrical connection. Reached apogee of {{convert|1550|km}}.{{cite web |title=Pioneer 2 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=PION2 |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=9 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209175033/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=PION2 |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 6
| rowspan="2" |Luna E-1 No.3 |{{dts|4 December 1958}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Luna |Impactor | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; seal failure in hydrogen peroxide pump cooling system resulted in core-stage underperformance. |
rowspan="2" | 7
| rowspan="2" |Pioneer 3 |{{dts|6 December 1958}} |{{flagicon|USA|1912}} NASA |Flyby | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; premature first-stage cutoff. Reached apogee of {{convert|102360|km}}.{{cite web |title=Pioneer 3 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1958-008A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=19 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419205707/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1958-008A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 8
| rowspan="2" |Luna 1 (E-1 No.4) |{{dts|2 January 1959}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Luna |Luna 1 |Impactor | {{partial|Partial failure}} |
colspan="6" |Carrier rocket guidance problem resulted in failure to impact Moon, flew past in a heliocentric orbit.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=21–24 |chapter=1959 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1959.pdf |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922033420/https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1959.pdf |url-status=live }} Closest approach {{convert|5995|km}} on 4 January.{{cite web |title=Luna 1 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-012A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=2 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602031816/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-012A |url-status=live }} First spacecraft to fly by the Moon. |
rowspan="2" | 9
| rowspan="2" |Pioneer 4 |{{dts|3 March 1959}} |{{flagicon|USA|1912}} NASA |Flyby | {{partial|Partial failure}} |
colspan="6" |Second-stage overperformance resulted in flyby at greater altitude than expected, out of instrument range, with {{convert|58983|km}} of distance. Closest approach at 22:25 UTC on 4 March. First U.S. spacecraft to leave Earth orbit.{{cite web |title=Pioneer 4 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-013A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=23 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223035908/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1959-013A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 10
| rowspan="2" |E-1A No.1 |{{dts|18 June 1959}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Luna |Impactor | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; guidance system malfunction. |
rowspan="2" | 11
| rowspan="2" |Luna 2 (E-1A No.2) |{{dts|12 September 1959}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Luna |Impactor | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" | Successful impact at 21:02 on 14 September 1959. First spacecraft to impact the lunar surface.{{cite web |title=Luna 2 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-014A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=25 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825003339/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-014A |url-status=live }} This made the Soviet Union the 1st country to impact the surface of the Moon. |
rowspan="2" | 12
| rowspan="2" |Luna 3 (E-2A No.1) |{{dts|4 October 1959}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Luna |Flyby | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Returned the first images of the far side of the Moon.{{cite web |title=Luna 3 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-008A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604001110/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-008A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 13
| rowspan="2" |Pioneer P-3 Able IVB |{{dts|26 November 1959}} |{{flagicon|USA|1959}} NASA |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit;{{cite web |title=Pioneer P-3 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=PIONX |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=19 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619223413/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=PIONX |url-status=live }} payload fairing disintegrated due to design fault. |
id="1960"
| rowspan="2" | 14 | rowspan="2" |Luna E-3 No.1 |{{dts|15 April 1960}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Luna |Flyby | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; premature third-stage cutoff.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=25–27 |chapter=1960 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1960.pdf |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027154020/https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1960.pdf |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 15
| rowspan="2" |Luna E-3 No.2 |{{dts|16 April 1960}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Luna |Flyby | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; rocket disintegrated ten seconds after launch. |
rowspan="2" | 16
| rowspan="2" |Pioneer P-30 (Able VA) |{{dts|25 September 1960}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; second-stage oxidizer system malfunction resulting in premature cutoff.{{cite web |title=Pioneer P-30 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=PIONY |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626193709/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=PIONY |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 17
| rowspan="2" |Pioneer P-31 (Able VB) |{{dts|15 December 1960}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit, exploded 68 seconds after launch, at an altitude of {{convert|12.2|km}}. Second stage ignited while first stage was still attached and burning.{{cite web |title=Pioneer P-31 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=PIONZ |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=29 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629021756/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=PIONZ |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="3" | 18
| rowspan="3" |Ranger 3 (P-34) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|26 January 1962}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | rowspan="2" |Atlas LV-3 Agena-B |Impactor | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
Ranger 3 lander
|Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |Partial launch failure due to guidance problem; attempt to correct using spacecraft's engine resulted in it missing the Moon by {{convert|36793|km}}.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=34–37 |chapter=1962 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1962.pdf |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308134852/https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1962.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Ranger 3 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-001A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=8 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108223625/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1962-001A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="3" | 19
| rowspan="3" |Ranger 4 (P-35) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|23 April 1962}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | rowspan="2" |Atlas LV-3 Agena-B |Impactor | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
Ranger 4 lander
|Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |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.{{cite web |title=Ranger 4 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-012A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=29 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629120238/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-012A |url-status=live }}
The impact made the United States the 2nd country to impact the surface of the Moon. |
rowspan="3" | 20
| rowspan="3" |Ranger 5 (P-36) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|18 October 1962}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | rowspan="2" |Atlas LV-3 Agena-B |Impactor | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
Ranger 5 lander
|Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |Solar panels erroneously disengaged from power system, failed {{frac|8|3|4}} hours after launch when batteries were depleted. Missed the Moon as course correction was not completed.{{cite web |title=Ranger 5 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1962-055A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=12 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412185622/http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1962-055A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 21
| rowspan="2" |Luna E-6 No.2 |{{dts|4 January 1963}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Lander | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to depart Low Earth orbit;{{cite web |title=Sputnik 25 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1963-001A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707011855/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1963-001A |url-status=live }} guidance system power failure prevented upper-stage ignition.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=39–40 |chapter=1963 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1963.pdf |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308150703/https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1963.pdf |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 22
| rowspan="2" |Luna E-6 No.3 |{{dts|3 February 1963}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Lander | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; guidance failure. |
rowspan="2" | 23
| rowspan="2" |Luna 4 (E-6 No.4) |{{dts|2 April 1963}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to perform mid-course correction, remained in high Earth orbit until given escape velocity by orbital perturbation.{{cite web |title=Luna 4 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1963-008B |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=10 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210023810/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1963-008B |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 24
| rowspan="2" |Ranger 6 (P-54) |{{dts|30 January 1964}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Impactor | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |Impacted on 2 February 1964, failed to return images due to power system failure.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=41–45 |chapter=1964 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1964.pdf |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308131654/https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1964.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Luna 4 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1964-007A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417124414/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1964-007A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 25
| rowspan="2" |Luna E-6 No.6 |{{dts|21 March 1964}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Lander | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; third stage underperformed due to oxidiser valve failure. |
rowspan="2" | 26
| rowspan="2" |Luna E-6 No.5 |{{dts|20 April 1964}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |Lander | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; power failure caused by broken connection resulted in premature third-stage cutoff. |
rowspan="2" | 27
| rowspan="2" |Ranger 7 |{{dts|28 July 1964}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Impactor | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Impacted on 30 July 1964 at 13:25:48 UTC.{{cite web |title=Ranger 7 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1964-041A |access-date=3 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=20 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720191314/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1964-041A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 28
| rowspan="2" |Ranger 8 |{{dts|17 February 1965}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Impactor | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Impacted on 20 February 1965 at 09:57:37 UTC.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=47–52 |chapter=1965 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1965.pdf |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308154842/https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1965.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Ranger 8 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-010A |access-date=4 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=15 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915132854/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-010A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 29
| rowspan="2" |Kosmos 60 (E-6 No.9) |{{dts|12 March 1965}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Upper stage failed to restart due to guidance system short circuit, Failed to depart low Earth orbit.{{cite web |title=Cosmos 60 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-018A |access-date=4 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706234422/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-018A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 30
| rowspan="2" |Ranger 9 |{{dts|21 March 1965}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Impactor | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Impacted on 24 March 1965 at 14:08:20 UTC.{{cite web |title=Ranger 9 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-023A |access-date=4 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417135915/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-023A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 31
| rowspan="2" |Luna E-6 No.8 |{{dts|10 April 1965}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |Third stage failed to ignite due to loss of oxidiser pressure, failed to orbit. |
rowspan="2" | 32
| rowspan="2" |Luna 5 (E-6 No.10) |{{dts|9 May 1965}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |Loss of control after gyroscope malfunction, failed to decelerate for landing and impacted the Moon at 19:10 UTC on 12 May 1965.{{cite web |title=Luna 5 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-036A |access-date=4 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417115719/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-036A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 33
| rowspan="2" |Luna 6 (E-6 No.7) |{{dts|8 June 1965}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |Engine failed to shut down after performing mid-course correction manoeuvre, flew past the Moon in a heliocentric orbit.{{cite web |title=Luna 6 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-044A |access-date=4 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=10 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200210023910/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-044A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 34
| rowspan="2" |Zond 3 (3MV-4 No.3) |{{dts|18 July 1965}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Flyby | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Flew past the Moon on 20 July 1965 at a distance of {{convert|9200|km}}.{{cite web |title=Zond 3 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-056A |access-date=4 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=19 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319080557/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-056A |url-status=live }} Conducted technology demonstration for future planetary missions. |
rowspan="2" | 35
| rowspan="2" |Luna 7 (E-6 No.11) |{{dts|4 October 1965}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |Attitude control failure shortly before landing prevented controlled descent; impacted the lunar surface 22:08:24 UTC on 7 October 1965.{{cite web |title=Luna 7 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-077A |access-date=4 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417154612/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-077A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 36
| rowspan="2" |Luna 8 (E-6 No.12) |{{dts|3 December 1965}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |Landing airbag punctured, resulting in loss of attitude control shortly before planned touchdown, impacted Moon on 6 December 1965 at 21:51:30 UTC.{{cite web |title=Luna 8 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-099A |access-date=4 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417114928/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1965-099A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 37
| rowspan="2" |Luna 9 (E-6 No.13) |{{dts|31 January 1966}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |First spacecraft to land successfully on the Moon. Touchdown on 3 February 1966 at 18:45:30 UTC.{{cite web |title=Luna 9 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-006A |access-date=4 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417154714/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-006A |url-status=live }} Returned data until 6 February at 22:55 UTC.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=47–52 |chapter=1966 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1966.pdf |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=6 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606124122/http://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1966.pdf |url-status=live }} With its soft landing, the Soviet Union became the first country to successfully land on the lunar surface. |
rowspan="2" | 38
| rowspan="2" |Kosmos 111 (E-6S No.204) |{{dts|1 March 1966}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Upper stage lost attitude control and failed to ignite; spacecraft never left low Earth orbit.{{cite web |title=Cosmos 111 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-017A |access-date=4 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=23 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423153359/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-017A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 39
| rowspan="2" |Luna 10 (E-6S No.206) |{{dts|31 March 1966}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Entered orbit at 18:44 UTC on 3 April 1966, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit the Moon.{{cite web |title=Luna 10 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-027A |access-date=5 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=27 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727112359/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-027A |url-status=live }} Continued to return data until 30 May. |
rowspan="2" | 40
| rowspan="2" |Surveyor 1 |{{dts|30 May 1966}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Lander | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Landed in Oceanus Procellarum on 2 June 1966 at 06:17:36 UTC. Returned data until loss of power on 13 July.{{cite web |title=Surveyor 1 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-045A |access-date=5 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=27 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927153246/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-045A |url-status=live }} With its soft landing, the United States became the second country to successfully land on the lunar surface. |
rowspan="2" | 41
| rowspan="2" |Explorer 33 (AIMP-D) |{{dts|1 July 1966}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Magnetospheric probe; rocket imparted greater velocity than had been planned, leaving spacecraft unable to enter orbit. Repurposed for Earth orbit mission which was completed successfully.{{cite web |title=Explorer 33 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-058A |access-date=5 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=14 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214081129/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-058A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 42
| rowspan="2" |Lunar Orbiter 1 |{{dts|10 August 1966}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{partial|Partial failure}} |
colspan="6" |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.{{cite web |title=Lunar Orbiter 1 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-073A |access-date=5 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=7 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807023134/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-073A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 43
| rowspan="2" |Luna 11 (E-6LF No.101) |{{dts|21 August 1966}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Orbiter | {{partial|Partial failure}} |
colspan="6" |Entered orbit on 28 August 1966. Failed to return images; other instruments operated correctly. 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.{{cite web |title=Luna 11 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-078A |access-date=6 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417114032/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-078A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 44
| rowspan="2" |Surveyor 2 |{{dts|20 September 1966}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |One thruster failed to ignite during mid-course correction manoeuvre, resulting in loss of control. Impacted the Moon at 03:18 UTC on 23 September 1966.{{cite web |title=Surveyor 2 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-084A |access-date=6 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428103211/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-084A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 45
| rowspan="2" |Luna 12 (E-6LF No.102) |{{dts|22 October 1966}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Entered orbit on 25 October 1966 and returned data until 19 January 1967.{{cite web |title=Luna 12 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-084A |access-date=6 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428103211/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-084A |url-status=live }} Completed photography mission intended for Luna 11. |
rowspan="2" | 46
| rowspan="2" |Lunar Orbiter 2 |{{dts|6 November 1966}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |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.{{cite web |title=Lunar Orbiter 2 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-100A |access-date=6 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417115006/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-100A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 47
| rowspan="2" |Luna 13 (E-6M No.205) |{{dts|21 December 1966}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" | Successfully landed in Oceanus Procellarum at 18:01 UTC on 24 December 1966. Returned images from the surface and studied the lunar soil.{{cite web |title=Luna 13 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-116A |access-date=6 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=22 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122012645/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1966-116A |url-status=live }} Operated until depletion of power at 06:31 UTC on 28 December. |
rowspan="2" | 48
| rowspan="2" |Lunar Orbiter 3 |{{dts|5 February 1967}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Entered orbit at 21:54 UTC on 8 February 1967. Deorbited at end of mission and impacted the Moon on 9 October 1967.{{cite web |title=Lunar Orbiter 3 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-008A |access-date=17 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417154335/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-008A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 49
| rowspan="2" |Surveyor 3 |{{dts|17 April 1967}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Lander | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Landed at 00:04 UTC on 20 April 1967 and operated until 3 May.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=47–52 |chapter=1967 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1967.pdf |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=11 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311164314/https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1967.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Surveyor 3 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-035A |access-date=17 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=4 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904165614/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-035A |url-status=live }} Visited by Apollo 12 astronauts in 1969, with some parts removed for return to Earth.{{cite web |title=Surveyor Lunar Spacecraft |url=http://www.boeing.com/boeing/history/boeing/surveyor.page |access-date=17 December 2013 |publisher=Boeing |archive-date=17 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217053444/http://www.boeing.com/boeing/history/boeing/surveyor.page |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 50
| rowspan="2" |Lunar Orbiter 4 |{{dts|4 May 1967}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |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.{{cite web |title=Lunar Orbiter 4 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-041A |access-date=26 May 2014 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417143629/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-041A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 51
| rowspan="2" |Surveyor 4 |{{dts|14 July 1967}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |Contact with spacecraft lost at 02:03 UTC on 17 July, two and a half minutes before scheduled landing. NASA determined that the spacecraft may have exploded, otherwise it impacted the Moon.{{cite web |title=Surveyor 4 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-068A |access-date=17 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428103155/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-068A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 52
| rowspan="2" |Explorer 35 |{{dts|19 July 1967}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Explorer 35 |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Magnetospheric probe, studying the Moon and interplanetary space. Deactivated on 27 June 1973.{{cite web |title=Explorer 35 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-070A |access-date=26 May 2014 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417121455/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-070A |url-status=live }} Presumed to have impacted the Moon during the 1970s.{{cite web|title=Explorer 35|date=December 2017 |url=https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/explorer-35/in-depth/|publisher=NASA|access-date=January 22, 2023|archive-date=30 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130191838/https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/explorer-35/in-depth/|url-status=live}} |
rowspan="2" | 53
| rowspan="2" |Lunar Orbiter 5 |{{dts|1 August 1967}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |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.{{cite web |title=Lunar Orbiter 5 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-075A |access-date=26 May 2014 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417141357/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-075A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 54
| rowspan="2" |Surveyor 5 |{{dts|8 September 1967}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Lander | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Landed in Mare Tranquillitatis at 00:46:44 UTC on 11 September. Last signals received at 04:30 UTC on 17 December 1967.{{cite web |title=Surveyor 5 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-084A |access-date=26 May 2014 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428103223/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-084A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 55
| rowspan="2" |Soyuz 7K-L1 No.4L |{{dts|27 September 1967}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Flyby | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |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. |
rowspan="2" | 56
| rowspan="2" |Surveyor 6 |{{dts|7 November 1967}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Lander | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Landed in Sinus Medii at 01:01:04 UTC on 10 November. Made brief flight from lunar surface at 10:32 UTC on 17 November, followed by second landing after travelling {{convert|2.4|m}}. Last contact at 19:14 UTC on 14 December.{{cite web |title=Surveyor 6 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-112A |access-date=26 May 2014 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428103234/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1967-112A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 57
| rowspan="2" |Soyuz 7K-L1 No.5L |{{dts|22 November 1967}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Flyby | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Technology demonstration for planned crewed missions; unable to achieve orbit after second-stage engine failed to ignite. |
rowspan="2" | 58
| rowspan="2" |Surveyor 7 |{{dts|7 January 1968}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |{{nowrap|Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D}} |Lander | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Final Surveyor mission.{{cite web |title=Surveyor 7 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-001A |access-date=26 May 2014 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428103251/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-001A |url-status=live }} Landed {{convert|29|km}} from Tycho crater at 01:05:36 UTC on 10 January. Operated until 21 February 1968.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=69–72 |chapter=1968 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1968.pdf |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027154747/https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1968.pdf |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 59
| rowspan="2" |Luna E-6LS No.112 |{{dts|7 February 1968}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit after third stage ran out of fuel. |
rowspan="2" | 60
| rowspan="2" |Luna 14 (E-6LS No.113) |{{dts|7 April 1968}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Tested communications for proposed crewed missions and studied the mass concentration of the Moon. Entered orbit on 10 April at 19:25 UTC.{{cite web |title=Luna 14 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-027A |access-date=31 May 2014 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=17 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417135601/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-027A |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 61
| rowspan="2" |Soyuz 7K-L1 No.7L |{{dts|22 April 1968}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Flyby | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |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. |
rowspan="2" | 62
| rowspan="2" |Zond 5 (7K-L1 No.9L) |{{dts|14 September 1968}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Flyby | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Two tortoises and other life forms on board a technology demonstration for planned crewed missions. Made a closest approach of {{convert|1950|km}} 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.{{cite web |title=Zond 5 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-076A |publisher=NASA Space Science and Data Coordinated Archive|access-date=March 20, 2023}} |
rowspan="2" | 63
| rowspan="2" |Zond 6 (7K-L1 No.12L) |{{dts|10 November 1968}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Flyby | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |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 {{convert|2420|km}}.{{cite web |title=Zond 6 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-101A |access-date=31 May 2014 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404021615/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1968-101A |url-status=live }} Reentered Earth's atmosphere on 17 November; recovery was unsuccessful after parachutes were prematurely jettisoned. |
rowspan="2" | 64
| rowspan="2" | Apollo 8 |{{dts|21 December 1968}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | Apollo 8 |Crewed orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |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.{{cite web |date=8 July 2009 |title=Apollo 8 |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo8.html |access-date=31 May 2014 |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration |archive-date=20 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520095443/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/missions/apollo8.html |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 65
| rowspan="2" |Soyuz 7K-L1 No.13L |{{dts|20 January 1969}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Flyby | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |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.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=73–80 |chapter=1969 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1969.pdf}} |
rowspan="3" | 66
| rowspan="3" |Luna E-8 No.201 | rowspan="2" |{{dts|19 February 1969}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no|Launch failure}} |
Lunokhod
|Rover | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |First launch of the Lunokhod rover. Launch vehicle disintegrated 51 seconds after launch and exploded.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=73–80 |chapter=1969 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1969.pdf |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027150238/https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1969.pdf |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="2" | 67
| rowspan="2" |Soyuz 7K-L1S No.3 |{{dts|21 February 1969}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |N1 |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |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 {{convert|50|km}} from launch site. Spacecraft landed some {{convert|35|km}} from the launch pad after successfully using its launch escape system. |
rowspan="3" | 68
| rowspan="3" |Apollo 10 | rowspan="2" |{{dts|18 May 1969}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | rowspan="2" |Saturn V |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
Lunar Module Snoopy
|Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Dress rehearsal for Apollo 11. Lunar Module with two astronauts on board descended to a distance of {{convert|14.326|km}} above the lunar surface.{{cite web |title=APOLLO 10 (AS-505) |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/apollo/apollo-program/orbital-missions/apollo10.cfm |access-date=4 April 2019 |publisher=Smithsonian Air and Space Museum |archive-date=4 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704011501/https://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/apollo/apollo-program/orbital-missions/apollo10.cfm |url-status=live }} |
rowspan="3" | 69
| rowspan="3" |Luna E-8-5 No.402 | rowspan="2" |{{dts|14 June 1969}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no|Launch failure}} |
Luna E-8-5 No.402 return craft
|Sample Return | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Intended to land on the Moon and return lunar soil sample. Did not reach Earth orbit after fourth stage failed to ignite. |
rowspan="2" | 70
| rowspan="2" |Soyuz 7K-L1S No.5 |{{dts|3 July 1969}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |N1 |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |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 {{convert|2|km}} from the launch site after using launch escape sequence. |
rowspan="3" | 71
| rowspan="3" |Luna 15 (E-8-5 No.401) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|13 July 1969}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
Luna 15 return craft
|Sample Return | {{no|Precluded}} |
colspan="6" |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. |
rowspan="3" | 72
| rowspan="3" |Apollo 11 | rowspan="2" |{{dts|16 July 1969}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | rowspan="2" |Saturn V |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
Lunar Module Eagle
|Lander/Launch Vehicle | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |First crewed landing on the Moon. The Lunar Module Eagle landed at 20:17 UTC on 20 July 1969. |
rowspan="2" | 73
| rowspan="2" |Zond 7 (7K-L1 No.11L) |{{dts|7 August 1969}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Flyby | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Technology demonstration for planned crewed missions. Carried four turtles in a lunar flyby on 10 August, with a closest approach of {{convert|1200|km}}; returned to Earth and landed in Kazakhstan at 18:13 UTC on 14 August. |
rowspan="3" | 74
| rowspan="3" |Kosmos 300 (E-8-5 No.403) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|23 September 1969}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no|Launch failure}} |
Kosmos 300 return craft
|Sample return | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |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. |
rowspan="3" | 75
| rowspan="3" |Kosmos 305 (E-8-5 No.404) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|22 October 1969}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no|Launch failure}} |
Kosmos 305 return craft
|Sample Return | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |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. |
rowspan="3" | 76
| rowspan="3" |Apollo 12 | rowspan="2" |{{dts|14 November 1969}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | rowspan="2" |Saturn V |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
Lunar Module Intrepid
|Lander/Launch Vehicle | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Second crewed lunar landing. |
id="1970"
| rowspan="3" | 77 | rowspan="3" |Luna E-8-5 No.405 | rowspan="2" |{{dts|6 February 1970}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no|Launch failure}} |
Luna E-8-5 No.405 return craft
|Sample return | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit |
rowspan="4" | 78
| rowspan="4" |Apollo 13 | rowspan="3" |{{dts|11 April 1970}} | rowspan="3" |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | rowspan="3" |Saturn V |Orbiter | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
rowspan="2" |Lunar Module Aquarius
|Lander/Launch Vehicle | {{no|Precluded}} |
Rescue mission
| {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |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. |
rowspan="3" | 79
| rowspan="3" |Luna 16 (E-8-5 No.406) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|12 September 1970}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{Success}} |
Luna 16 return craft
|Sample return | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |First robotic sampling mission. |
rowspan="2" | 80
| rowspan="2" |Zond 8 (7K-L1 No.14L) |{{dts|20 October 1970}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Flyby | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Technology demonstration for planned crewed missions; returned to Earth successfully. |
rowspan="3" | 81
| rowspan="3" |Luna 17 (E-8 No.203) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|10 November 1970}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{Success}} |
Lunokhod 1
|Rover | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Luna 17 deployed Lunokhod 1. |
rowspan="3" | 82
| rowspan="3" |Apollo 14 | rowspan="2" |{{dts|31 January 1971}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | rowspan="2" |Saturn V |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
Lunar Module Antares
|Lander/Launch Vehicle | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Third crewed lunar landing. |
rowspan="4" | 83
| rowspan="4" |Apollo 15 | rowspan="3" |{{dts|26 July 1971}} | rowspan="3" |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | rowspan="3" |Saturn V |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
Lunar Module Falcon
|Lander/Launch Vehicle | {{Success}} |
Lunar Roving Vehicle
|Rover | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Fourth crewed lunar landing, and first to use the Lunar Roving Vehicle. |
rowspan="2" | 84
| rowspan="2" |PFS-1 |{{dts|26 July 1971}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |PFS-1 was deployed from Apollo 15. |
rowspan="3" | 85
| rowspan="3" |Luna 18 (E-8-5 No.407) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|2 September 1971}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
Luna 18 return craft
|Sample return | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed during descent to lunar surface. |
rowspan="2" | 86
| rowspan="2" |Luna 19 (E-8LS No.202) |{{dts|28 September 1971}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Luna 19 |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Entered an orbit around the Moon on 2 October 1971 after two midcourse corrections on 29 September and 1 October. |
rowspan="3" | 87
| rowspan="3" |Luna 20 (E-8-5 No.408) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|14 February 1972}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{Success}} |
Luna 20 return craft
|Sample return | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |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. |
rowspan="4" | 88
| rowspan="4" |Apollo 16 | rowspan="3" |{{dts|16 April 1972}} | rowspan="3" |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | rowspan="3" |Saturn V |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
Lunar Module Orion
|Lander/Launch Vehicle | {{Success}} |
Lunar Roving Vehicle
|Rover | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |5th crewed lunar landing. |
rowspan="2" | 89
| rowspan="2" |PFS-2 |{{dts|16 April 1972}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |PFS-2 deployed from Apollo 16. |
rowspan="2" | 90
| rowspan="2" |Soyuz 7K-LOK No.1 |{{dts|23 November 1972}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} OKB-1 |N1 |Orbiter | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit; intended to orbit the Moon and return to Earth. |
rowspan="4" | 91
| rowspan="4" |Apollo 17 | rowspan="3" |{{dts|7 December 1972}} | rowspan="3" |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA | rowspan="3" |Saturn V |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
Lunar Module Challenger
|Lander/Launch Vehicle | {{Success}} |
Lunar Roving Vehicle
|Rover | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Sixth and last crewed lunar landing and last use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle; the orbiting command module included five mice. |
rowspan="3" | 92
| rowspan="3" |Luna 21 (E-8 No.204) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|8 January 1973}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{Success}} |
Lunokhod 2
|Rover | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Deployed Lunokhod 2. |
rowspan="2" | 93
| rowspan="2" |Explorer 49 (RAE-B) |{{dts|10 June 1973}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Radio astronomy spacecraft, operated in selenocentric orbit to avoid interference from terrestrial radio sources. |
rowspan="2" | 94
| rowspan="2" |Mariner 10 |{{dts|3 November 1973}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Flyby | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Interplanetary spacecraft, mapped lunar north pole to test cameras. |
rowspan="2" | 95
| rowspan="2" |Luna 22 (E-8LS No.206) |{{dts|29 May 1974}} |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Inserted into a circular lunar orbit on 2 June 1974 |
rowspan="3" | 96
| rowspan="3" |Luna 23 (E-8-5M No.410) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|28 October 1974}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{partial|Partial failure}} |
Luna 23 return craft
|Sample Return | {{no|Precluded}} |
colspan="6" |Tipped over upon landing, precluding any sample return attempt. Functioned for three days on surface. |
rowspan="3" | 97
| rowspan="3" |Luna E-8-5M No.412 | rowspan="2" |{{dts|16 October 1975}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{no|Launch failure}} |
Luna E-8-5M No.412 return craft
|Sample Return | {{no|Launch failure}} |
colspan="6" |Failed to orbit. |
rowspan="3" | 98
| rowspan="3" |Luna 24 (E-8-5M No.413) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|9 August 1976}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} Lavochkin |Lander | {{Success}} |
Luna 24 return craft
|Sample Return | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" | 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 {{frac|96|1|2}} hours later.{{cite book |last=Siddiqi |first=Asif A. |title=Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958–2000 |date=2002 |publisher=NASA History Office |series=Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24 |pages=115–116 |chapter=1976 |chapter-url=https://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1966.pdf |access-date=12 July 2017 |archive-date=6 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606124122/http://history.nasa.gov/monograph24/1966.pdf |url-status=live }} Returned {{convert|170.1|g}} of lunar regolith.{{cite web |title=Luna 24 |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1976-081A |access-date=14 December 2013 |publisher=US National Space Science Data Center |archive-date=14 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514144528/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1976-081A |url-status=live }} Final mission to the Moon from the Soviet Union. |
rowspan="2" | 99
| rowspan="2" |ISEE-3 (ICE/Explorer 59) |{{dts|12 August 1978}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Flyby | {{Success}} |
id="1980"
| colspan="6" |Five flybys in 1982 and 1983 en route to comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner. |
id="1990"
| rowspan="3" | 100 | rowspan="3" |Hiten (MUSES-A) | rowspan="2" |{{dts|24 January 1990}} | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|Japan|1947}} ISAS | rowspan="2" | Mu-3S-II |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
Hagoromo
|Orbiter | {{no2|Spacecraft failure}} |
colspan="6" |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.{{cite web |title=Hiten |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1990-007A |access-date=12 April 2019 |publisher=NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive (NSSDCA) |archive-date=8 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208101032/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1990-007A |url-status=live }} Hagoromo was deployed from Hiten. The impact made Japan the 3rd country to impact the surface of the Moon. |
rowspan="2" | 101
| rowspan="2" |Geotail |{{dts|24 July 1992}} |{{flagicon|Japan|1947}} {{flagicon|USA}} ISAS/NASA |Flyby | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Series of flybys to regulate high Earth orbit. |
rowspan="2" | 102
| rowspan="2" |WIND |{{dts|1 November 1994}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |WIND |Flyby | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Made two flybys on 1 December 1994 and 27 December 1994 to reach the Earth–Sun L1 Lagrangian point. |
rowspan="2" | 103
| rowspan="2" |Clementine (DSPSE) |{{dts|25 January 1994}} |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Completed Lunar objectives successfully; failed following departure from selenocentric orbit. |
rowspan="2" | 104
| rowspan="2" |HGS-1 |{{dts|24 December 1997}} |{{flagicon|USA}} Hughes |Flyby | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Communications satellite; made two flybys in May and June 1998 en route to geosynchronous orbit after delivery into wrong orbit. |
rowspan="2" | 105
| rowspan="2" |Lunar Prospector (Discovery 3) |{{dts|7 January 1998}} |{{flagicon|USA}} NASA |Orbiter | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |The mission ended on July 31, 1999 |
rowspan="2" | 106
| rowspan="2" |Nozomi (PLANET-B) |{{dts|3 July 1998}} |{{flagicon|Japan|1947}} ISAS |M-V |Flyby | {{Success}} |
colspan="6" |Two flybys en route to Mars. |
21st century
;Legend
⚀ Cubesat or similar
{{sticky header}}
Statistics
=Launches by decade=
{{Bar graph
| title = Launches to Moon
| float = right
| bar_width = 16
| width_units = em
| data_max = 63
| label_type = Decade
| data_type = #
| label1 = 1950s
| data1 = 13
| label2 = 1960s
| data2 = 63
| label3 = 1970s
| data3 = 23
| label4 = 1980s
| data4 = 0
| label5 = 1990s
| data5 = 7
| label6 = 2000s
| data6 = 8
| label7 = 2010s
| data7 = 10
| label8 = 2020s
| data8 = 18
}}
This is a list of 144 missions (including failed ones) to the Moon. It includes Flybys, Impact probes, orbiters, landers, rovers and crewed missions.
=Mission milestones by country=
This is a list of major milestones achieved by country. Recorded is the first spacecraft from each respective country to accomplish each milestone, regardless of mission type or intended outcome. For example, Beresheet was not intended to be an impactor, but achieved that milestone incidentally.
;Legend
{{legend inline|#9EFF9E|Attempted Milestone achieved|outline=silver}}
{{legend inline|#FFC7C7|Attempted Milestone not achieved|outline=silver}}
† First to achieve
class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !Country/ Agency !Flyby{{efn|While Orbiting specific missions achieve a flyby milestone by virtue of entering the orbit, this table lists only flyby specific missions.}} !Orbit !Impact !Soft landing !Rover !Sample return !Crewed orbiting !Crewed landing |
{{Flagicon|USA}} United States
|style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="2" | Pioneer 4, 1959 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="2" | Lunar Orbiter 1, 1966 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="2" | Ranger 4, 1962 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="2" | Surveyor 1, 1966 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="2" | LRV (Apollo 15), 1971 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="1" | Apollo 11, 1969 † |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="1" | Apollo 8, 1968 † |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="1" | Apollo 11, 1969 † |
{{flagicon|USSR}} Soviet Union
|style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="1" | Luna 1, 1959 † |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="1" | Luna 10, 1966 † |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="1" | Luna 2, 1959 † |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="1" | Luna 9, 1966 † |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="1" | Lunokhod 1, 1970 † |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="2" | Luna 16, 1970 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="2" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="2" | — |
{{flagicon|China}} China
|style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="4" | Chang'e 5-T1, 2014 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="5" | Chang'e 1, 2007 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="6" | Chang'e 1, 2009 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="3" | Chang'e 3, 2013 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="3" | Yutu, 2013 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="3" | Chang'e 5, 2020 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="3" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="3" | — |
{{flagicon|India}} India
|style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="7" | Chandrayaan 3, 2023 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="6" | Chandrayaan 1, 2008 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="5" | MIP, 2008 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="4" | Chandrayaan 3, 2023 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="4" | Pragyan, 2023 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="4" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="4" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="4" | — |
{{flagicon|Japan|1947}} Japan
|style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="3" | Hiten, 1990 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="3" | Hiten, 1993 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="3" | Hiten, 1993 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="5" | SLIM, 2024 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="5" | LEV-1, 2024 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="5" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="5" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="5" | — |
{{flagicon|Israel}} Israel
|style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="8" | — |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="7" | Beresheet, 2019 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="7" | Beresheet, 2019 |style="background:#FFC7C7; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="6" | Beresheet, 2019 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="8" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="6" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="6" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="6" | — |
{{Flagicon|RUS}} Russia
|style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="9" | — |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="9" | Luna 25, 2023 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="9" |Luna 25, 2023 |style="background:#FFC7C7; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="7" | Luna 25, 2023 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="9" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="7" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="7" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="7" | — |
23px ESA
|style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="10" | — |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="4" | SMART-1, 2003 |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="4" | SMART-1, 2006 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="8" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="10" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="8" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="8" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="8" | — |
{{flagicon|Luxembourg}} Luxembourg
|style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="5" | 4M, 2014 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="11" | — |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="7" | 4M, 2022 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="9" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="11" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="9" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="9" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="9" | — |
{{flagicon|South Korea}} South Korea
|style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="11" | — |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="8" | Danuri, 2022 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="11" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="10" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="12" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="10" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="10" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="10" | — |
{{Flagicon|Italy}} Italy
|style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="6" | ArgoMoon, 2022 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="12" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="12" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="11" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="13" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="11" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="11" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="11" | — |
{{Flagicon|UAE}} UAE
|style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="12" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="13" | — |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="8" | Rashid, 2023 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="12" | — |style="background:#FFC7C7; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="6" |Rashid, 2023 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="12" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="12" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="12" | — |
{{Flagicon|PAK}} Pakistan
|style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="13" | — |style="background:#9EFF9E; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="10" | ICUBE-Q, 2024 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="13" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="13" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="14" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="13" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="13" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="13" | — |
{{Flagicon|MEX}} Mexico
|style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="14" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="14" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="14" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="14" | — |style="background:#FFC7C7; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="7" | Colmena, 2024 |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="14" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="14" | — |style="background:#ECECEC; text-align:center;" data-sort-value="14" | — |
=Missions by organization/company=
{{clear}}
{{sticky header}}
class="wikitable sticky-header sortable" | |
+Analysis of numbers of lunar missions
! Country/ Agency ! Agency ! Successful ! Partial ! Failure !Success rate ! Operational ! Total ! Total for | |
rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|USSR}} USSR
|16 |2 |22 |40% | - |40 | rowspan="2" |58 | |
Energia | 2
| - |16 |11.11% | - |18 |
rowspan="2" | {{flag|USA}}
|NASA | 37
|2 |14 |67.27% |4 |55 | rowspan="2" |57 |
USAF | 1
| - |1 |50% | - |2 |
{{flag|China}}
|CNSA |10 | - | - |100% |8 |10 |10 | |
rowspan="2" |{{flag|Japan}}
|ISAS |2 | - |2 |50% | - |4 | rowspan="2" |8 | |
JAXA
|2 | - |1 |66.6% |1 |4 | |
{{flag|India}}
|ISRO |2 | 1 | - |66.6% | 2 |3 |3 | |
23px Various member states
|ESA |1 | - | - |100% | - |1 |1 | |
{{flag|Luxembourg}}
|1 | - | - |100% | - |1 |1 | |
{{flagicon|South Korea}} South Korea
|KARI |1 | - | - |100% |1 |1 |1 | |
{{flag|USA}} (private company)
|1 | - | - |100% | - |1 |1 | |
{{flag|USA}} (private company)
|Fluid & Reason |1 | - | - |100% | - |1 |1 | |
{{flag|USA}} (private company)
| - | - |1 |0% | - |1 |1 | |
{{flag|USA}} (private company)
|1 |1 | - |50% | - |2 |2 | |
{{flag|USA}} (private university)
|ERAU | - | - |1 |0% | - |1 |1 | |
{{flag|USA}} (private company)
|1 | - | - |100% | - |1 |1 | |
{{flagicon|Italy}} Italy
|ASI |1 | - | - |100% | - |1 |1 | |
{{flag|Israel}}
| - | - |1 |0% | - |1 |1 | |
{{Flagicon|RUS}} Russia
| - | - |1 |0% | - |1 |1 | |
{{flagicon|UAE}} UAE
| UAESA | - | - | 1 |0% | - | 1 |1 | |
{{flag|Japan}} (private company)
| - | - |1 |0% | - |1 |1 | |
{{Flag|Pakistan}}
|1 | - | - |100% |1 |1 |1 |
= Landing sites =
{{infobox
| image =
File:Moon Soft Landings.svg|frameless|370px|alt=Map of landing sites on the Moon|
rect 220 0100 1100 0290 Luna 9
rect 220 0290 1100 0480 Surveyor 1
rect 220 0480 1100 0670 Luna 13
rect 220 0670 1100 0860 Surveyor 3
rect 220 0860 1100 1050 Surveyor 5
rect 220 1050 1100 1240 Surveyor 6
rect 220 1240 1100 1530 Surveyor 7
rect 220 1430 1100 1620 Apollo 11
rect 220 1620 1100 1810 Apollo 12
rect 220 1810 1100 2000 Luna 16
rect 220 2000 1100 2190 Luna 17
rect 220 2190 1100 2380 Apollo 14
rect 220 2380 1100 2570 Apollo 15
rect 220 2570 1100 2760 Luna 20
rect 220 2760 1100 2950 Apollo 16
rect 220 2950 1100 3140 Apollo 17
rect 220 3140 1100 3330 Luna 21
rect 220 3330 1100 3520 Luna 23
rect 220 3520 1100 3710 Luna 24
rect 3500 0100 4500 0290 Chang'e 3
rect 3500 0290 4500 0480 Chang'e 4
rect 3500 0480 4500 0670 Chang'e 5
rect 3500 0670 4500 0860 Chandrayaan 3
rect 3500 0860 4500 1050 Smart Lander for Investigating Moon
rect 3500 1050 4500 1240 IM-1
rect 3500 1240 4500 1430 Chang'e 6
rect 3500 1430 4500 1620 Blue Ghost Mission 1
rect 3500 1620 4500 1810 IM-2
desc bottom-left
| captionstyle = text-align:left;
| caption =
Clickable map of the locations of all successful soft landings on the near side of the Moon to date (top)
{{plainlist}}
{{columns-list|
- {{legend2|#FF0000|border=1px solid #000000|Luna program (USSR)}}
- {{legend2|#00FFFF|border=1px solid #000000|Surveyor program (USA)}}
- {{legend2|#FF00FF|border=1px solid #000000|Apollo program (USA)}}
- {{legend2|#FFFF00|border=1px solid #000000|Chang'e program (China)}}
- {{legend2|#3A3AFF|border=1px solid #000000|Chandrayaan program (India)}}
- {{legend2|#D45500|border=1px solid #000000|SLIM (Japan)}}
- {{legend2|#00FF00|border=1px solid #000000|Commercial Lunar Payload Services (USA)}}
}}
{{endplainlist}}
Dates are landing dates in Coordinated Universal Time. Except for the Apollo program, all soft landings were uncrewed.
Asterisk indicates a partial success.
}}
As of March 2025, there have been a total twenty eight successful soft landings on the Moon carried out by five countries that include China, India, Japan, the Soviet Union, and the United States. Among these, a total of six soft landings were crewed (Apollo) conducted by United States. All two soft landings on the far side of the Moon were carried out by China, while soft landing near the lunar south pole was carried out by India's Chandrayaan-3 and Intuitive Machines' IM-1 Nova-C Odysseus and IM-2 Nova-C Athena lander.
Future missions
There are several future lunar missions planned or proposed by various nations and organizations.
= Funded and are under development =
== Robotic ==
{{sticky header}}
== Crewed ==
{{sticky header}}
= Proposed but full funding still unclear =
== Robotic and crewed ==
The following missions have been proposed but their full funding is unclear:
{{sticky header}}
Lunar Rovers
{{Excerpt|List of rovers on extraterrestrial bodies|Moon}}
Unrealized concepts
= 1960s =
- Soviet crewed lunar programs – The Soviet Union had been pursuing a crewed lunar flyby mission using Soyuz 7K-L1 launched aboard Proton-K and a crewed landing mission using Soyuz 7K-LOK and LK Lander launched aboard N1 rocket. After a series of N1 failures, both of these programs were cancelled in 1970 and 1976 respectively.{{cite book|author1=Brian Harvey|author2=Olga Zakutnyaya|title=Russian Space Probes: Scientific Discoveries and Future Missions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q6qyVkapjeoC&pg=PA211|year=2011|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4419-8150-9|pages=211–}}
= 1970s =
- Canceled Apollo missions – The Apollo program had three more missions lined up until Apollo 20, but the missions beyond Apollo 17, the sixth and final landing mission, were canceled due to budget constraints, change in technical direction and hardware delays. The ambitions shifted towards developing next generation rockets like Space Shuttle, the space station Skylab and in exploration programs such as Grand Tour program.{{Cite news |last=Times |first=Richard D. Lyons Special to The New York |date=1970-09-03 |title=2 MOON LANDINGS DROPPED BY NASA IN ECONOMY MOVE |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/09/03/archives/2-moon-landings-dropped-by-nasa-in-economy-move-space-officials-say.html |access-date=2024-03-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}
= 2000s =
- Constellation Program – The Constellation program ran from 2004–2010 and would have utilised the Ares I and Ares V rockets alongside the Orion spacecraft and Altair lunar lander to return astronauts to the Moon by 2020 in preparation for crewed missions to Mars. It was cancelled in October 2010 by the Augustine Committee. However, the Orion was spared and finally launched in November 2022 with Constellation and its rockets revised as the Artemis Program and Space Launch System.{{cite web | url=https://www.britannica.com/science/Constellation-program | title=Constellation program | Spacecraft, History, & Facts | Britannica }}
= 2010s =
- 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.[https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/27/17287154/nasa-lunar-surface-robotic-mission-resource-prospector-moon NASA scraps a lunar surface mission — just as it's supposed to focus on a Moon return] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103060941/https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/27/17287154/nasa-lunar-surface-robotic-mission-resource-prospector-moon |date=3 November 2018 }} Loren Grush, The Verge April 27, 2018
- 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.{{cite web|date=2020-10-25|title=How ISRO modified a lunar orbiter into Mars orbiter Mangalyaan, India's "Moon Man" recalls|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/how-isro-modified-a-lunar-orbiter-into-mars-orbiter-mangalyaan-indias-moon-man-recalls-2320097.html|access-date=2020-10-25|publisher=Zee News|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026115248/https://zeenews.india.com/india/how-isro-modified-a-lunar-orbiter-into-mars-orbiter-mangalyaan-indias-moon-man-recalls-2320097.html|url-status=live}} India would later go on to develop and launch its Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 mission, using an indigenously developed lander.
=2020s=
- DearMoon was an unrealized tourist mission financed by Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa. Maezawa and six to eight other civilians would have performed a lunar flyby in a SpaceX Starship. It was cancelled on June 1, 2024{{cite web | url=https://www.space.com/japanese-billionaire-cancels-spacex-starship-moon-dearmoon-flight | title=Japanese billionaire cancels private flight around the moon on SpaceX's giant Starship | website=Space.com | date=June 2024 }}
- VIPER – NASA rover that would have performed a survey expedition on a polar region of the Moon. It was canceled in July 2024.{{Cite web |title=NASA Ends VIPER Project, Continues Moon Exploration - NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-ends-viper-project-continues-moon-exploration/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |language=en-US}}
See also
{{Portal|Solar System|Spaceflight}}
- Exploration of the Moon
- List of extraterrestrial orbiters
- List of rovers on extraterrestrial bodies
- List of artificial objects on the Moon
- List of lunar probes
- Moon landing
- Timeline of Solar System exploration
- List of missions to Venus
- List of missions to Mars
- List of missions to minor planets
- List of missions to the outer planets
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://starlust.org/successful-moon-landings-interactive-map/ Interactive map of many of the successful Moon landings to date]
- [https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/lunartimeline.html NASA's timeline of missions to the moon (includes missions from all countries)]
{{Clear}}
{{Moon spacecraft}}
{{Lunar rovers}}
{{Crewed lunar spacecraft}}
{{Spacecraft by destination}}
{{Solar System probes}}
{{The Moon}}
{{Spaceflight lists and timelines}}
{{Future spaceflights}}