Space Topics: Moon
Missions to the Moon
Pioneer 0 - Luna 1958A - Pioneer
1 - Luna 1958B - Pioneer
2 - Luna1958C -
Pioneer 3 - Luna 1 - Luna
1959A - Pioneer 4 - Luna 2 - Luna
3 - Pioneer P-3 - Ranger
1 - Ranger 2 - Ranger 3 - Ranger
4 - Ranger 5 - Sputnik 25 - Luna
4 - Ranger 6 - Ranger 7 - Ranger
8 - Ranger 9 - Luna 5 - Luna
6 - Zond 3 -
Luna 7 - Luna 8 - Luna
9 - Cosmos 111 - Luna 10 - Surveyor
1 - Lunar Orbiter
1 - Luna 11 - Surveyor 2 - Luna
12 - Lunar Orbiter 2 - Luna
13 - Lunar Orbiter
3 - Surveyor 3 - Lunar
Orbiter 4 - Surveyor 4 - Lunar
Orbiter 5 - Surveyor
5 - Surveyor 6 - Surveyor
7 - Luna 14 - Zond 5 - Zond
6 - Apollo 8 - Zond
1969A - Luna 1969A - Zond
L1S-1 - Luna 1969B - Apollo
10 - Luna 1969C - Luna
15 - Apollo 11 - Zond 7 - Cosmos
300 - Cosmos 305 - Apollo
12 - Apollo 13 - Luna 16 -
Zond 8 - Luna
17 / Lunokhod 1 - Apollo 14 - Apollo
15 - Luna
18 - Luna 19 - Luna 20 - Apollo
16 - Soyuz L3 - Apollo 17 - Luna
21 / Lunokhod 2 - Luna 22 - Luna
23 - Luna
24 - Hiten (MUSES A) - Clementine - Lunar
Prospector - SMART-1 - Kaguya
(SELENE) -
Chang'e 1 - Chandrayaan-1 - Lunar
Reconnaissance Orbiter - LCROSS - Chang'e
2 - Luna Glob - Grail
Pioneer 0
Failed lunar orbiter (USA)
Launch: August 17, 1958
The first attempt by the United States to fly to the Moon ended just 77
seconds after liftoff when the rocket's first stage exploded.
Luna 1958A
Failed lunar impactor (USSR)
Launch: September 23, 1958
The rocket carrying the spacecraft exploded just after liftoff.
Pioneer 1
Failed lunar orbiter (USA)
Launch: October 11, 1958
Just after launch, the rocket's second and third stage failed to separate
evenly. As a result, the spacecraft was unable to achieve a lunar trajectory.
However, Pioneer 1 did manage to returned data on the Van Allen Belt and micrometeorite
impacts before re-entering Earth's atmosphere on Oct. 12, 1958.
Luna 1958B
Failed lunar impactor (USSR)
Launched: October 12, 1958
The rocket carrying the spacecraft to the Moon exploded just after liftoff.
Although Luna 1958B was launched hours after Pioneer 1, its trajectory would
have allowed it to beat Pioneer 1 to the Moon.
Pioneer 2
Failed lunar orbiter (USA)
Launched: November 8, 1958
Just after launch, the second stage of the rocket failed to ignite. As
a result, the spacecraft did not achieve orbit and fell back to Earth.
Luna 1958C
Failed lunar impactor (USSR)
Launched: December 4, 1958
The rocket's first stage failed shortly after launch.
Pioneer 3
Failed lunar flyby (USA)
Launched: December 6, 1958
The rocket's first stage shut off early, causing the spacecraft to crash.
Luna 1
Failed lunar impactor (USSR)
Launched: January 2, 1959
The spacecraft missed the Moon and went into a solar orbit. However, the
spacecraft did provide some scientific data when it released a sodium vapor
cloud 70,000 miles from Earth that allowed scientists to study interplanetary
gases.
Luna 1959A
Failed lunar impactor (USSR)
Launched: June 18, 1959
The rocket's guidance system failed and the spacecraft was unable to reach
Earth orbit.
Pioneer 4
Successful lunar flyby (USA)
Launched: March 3, 1959
Pioneer 4 passed within 60,000 kilometers (37,300 miles) of the Moon, returned
data on lunar radiation levels, then entered a solar orbit.
Luna 2
Successful lunar impactor (USSR)
Launched: September 12, 1959
Lunar impact: September 14, 1959
Luna 2 was the first spacecraft to land on another celestial body. |The
spacecraft impacted on the Moon's surface just east of the Sea of Serenity
near the craters Aristides, Archimedes, and Autolycus. The spacecraft did
not detect a magnetic field around the Moon.
Luna 3
Successful lunar flyby (USSR)
Launched: October 4, 1959
Luna 3 was the first spacecraft to take pictures of the far side of the
Moon. It is uncertain how many pictures the spacecraft returned, but three
images were released to the public, as well as a composite image of the full
disc of the Moon's far side, which was made up of several frames. As a result
of these pictures, the Russians were the first to name features on the far
side of the Moon. Luna 3's trajectory took the spacecraft from Earth, around
the Moon and back, where it reentered the Earth's atmosphere on April 20,
1960.
Pioneer P-3
Failed lunar flyby USA
Launched: November 26, 1959
The protective cover that surrounded the spacecraft while it was attached
to the rocket broke away after only 45 seconds in flight. As a result, the
spacecraft failed to reach orbit and crashed back to Earth.
Ranger 1
Failed Earth-orbit test vehicle (USA)
Launched: August 23, 1961
Ranger 1 was the first US spacecraft designed to test the feasibility of
going into a parking orbit around Earth before heading out to the Moon.
A parking orbit would give engineers time to calculate a much more accurate
trajectory for the spacecraft to follow to the Moon. Ranger 1 made it into
low Earth orbit. Its engines, which were supposed to re-ignite after 13
minutes and burn for 90 seconds, only burned for a few seconds and then shut
off. The spacecraft eventually re-entered Earth's atmosphere after completing
111 orbits.
Ranger 2
Failed Earth-orbit test vehicle (USA)
Launched: November 18, 1961
Ranger 2, like Ranger 1, was designed as a test vehicle. The spacecraft's
engines failed to re-ignite after the spacecraft entered a low Earth orbit.
The spacecraft burned up in Earth's atmosphere just two days after launch.
Ranger 3
Failed lunar lander (USA)
Launched: January. 26, 1962
Designed to take close-up images of the Moon before impacting with its
surface, Ranger 3 missed the Moon and ended up in a solar orbit.
Ranger 4
Failed lunar lander (USA)
Launched: April 23, 1962
Lunar impact: April 26, 1962
After a successful launch, a failure of some sort onboard Ranger 4 made
communication with the spacecraft impossible. Engineers were able to track
the spacecraft until it crashed on the far side of the Moon, but were unable
to collect any data.
Ranger 5
Failed lunar Lander (USA)
Launched: October 18, 1962
A solar cell onboard Ranger 5 failed shortly after launch. Without power,
engineers on the ground were unable to control the spacecraft and Ranger
5 missed the Moon by 720 kilometers (450 miles).
Sputnik 25
Failed lunar lander (USSR)
Launched: January 4, 1963
After a successful launch, the spacecraft failed to transfer to a lunar
trajectory and burnt up as it re-entered Earth's atmosphere.
Luna 4
Failed lunar orbiter (USSR)
Launched: April 2, 1963
Contact with Luna 4 was lost after it past within 9,300 kilometers (5,780
miles) of the Moon.
Ranger 6, 7, 8, or 9
NASA
| Ranger 6
Failed lunar impactor (USA)
Launched: January 30, 1964
Moon impact: February 2, 1964.
Ranger 6 was designed to take a series of images as it approached the Moon,
right up to the point where it crashed into its surface. Unfortunately, the
spacecraft's cameras failed and no pictures were returned. Ranger 6 crash-landed
in the Sea of Tranquility.
Ranger 7
Successful lunar impactor (USA)
Launched: July 28, 1964
Moon impact: July 31, 1964
Ranger 7 sent back the first high-quality images of the lunar surface before
it crash-landed in the Sea of Clouds. Over 4,300 images were sent back.
Ranger 8
Successful lunar impactor (USA)
Launched: February 17, 1965
Moon impact: February 20, 1965.
Ranger 8 took over 7,100 high quality images of the lunar surface before
it crash-landed in the Sea of Tranquility.
Ranger 9
Successful lunar impactor (USA)
Launched: March 21, 1965
Ranger 9 took over 5,800 images of the lunar surface before it crash-landed
in the crater Alphonsus. Network television broadcasted images from the spacecraft
as they were received - live from the Moon!
Luna 5
Failed lunar lander (USSR)
Launched: May 9, 1965
Lunar Impact: May 12, 1965
This mission was the first-ever attempt to soft-land a spacecraft on the
Moon. Luna 5's retro-rockets failed to fire and the spacecraft crash-landed
near the Sea of Clouds.
Luna 6
Failed lunar lander (USSR)
Launched: June 8, 1965
On its way to the Moon, a rocket failed to turn off after a trajectory
correction maneuver. As a result, Luna 8 missed the Moon and went into a solar
orbit.
Zond 3
Successful lunar flyby (USSR)
Launched: July 18, 1965
Zond 3 took 25 images as it flew by the far side of the Moon, then transmitted
the images back to Earth nine days later. After passing the Moon, the spacecraft
went into a solar orbit.
Luna 7
Failed lunar lander (USSR)
Launched: October 4, 1965
Lunar impact: October 7, 1965
Luna 7 made it to the Moon, but its retro rockets switched on too soon.
The spacecraft crash-landed in the Ocean of Storms, west of the crater Kepler.
Luna 8
Failed lunar lander (USSR)
Launched: December 3, 1965
Lunar impact: December 6, 1965
Luna 8 made it to the Moon, but its retro rockets fired too late and the
spacecraft crash-landed in the Ocean of Storms, east of the crater Galilei.
Luna 9
Successful lunar lander (USSR)
Launched: Jan. 31, 1966
Lunar landing: February 3, 1966
Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to make a controlled landing onto the
surface of another celestial body. Scientists believe Luna 9 landed on the
sloping floor of a shallow crater. Over the next two days, the spacecraft
sent back three panoramas of the lunar landscape. During the second and third
transmission, the spacecraft evidently shifted or settled a few centimeters,
because the third batch of images were taken from a slightly different angle.
The different angle allowed scientists to construct a stereoscopic view of
the landing site and determine the distances to various rocks and depressions.
The last communication with the spacecraft was on Feb. 5, 1966.
Cosmos 111
Failed moon flyby (USSR)
Launched: March 1, 1966
The spacecraft was unable to achieve a lunar trajectory. It re-entered
Earth's atmosphere on March 3, 1966.
Luna 10
Successful lunar orbiter (USSR)
Launched: March 31, 1966
Lunar arrival: April 2, 1966
Luna 10 arrived at the Moon becoming the first spacecraft to successfully
go into orbit around another celestial body. While in orbit, Luna 10 studied
radiation levels, cosmic ray intensities, and took readings of the Moon's
weak magnetic field. The spacecraft successfully transmitted data for two
months, circling the Moon 460 times before its mission came to an end on
May 30, 1966.
Surveyor 1
Successful lunar lander (USA)
Launched: May 30, 1966
Surveyor 1 was the first spacecraft from the United States to perform a
controlled landing on the surface of the Moon. Once on the surface, Surveyor
1 took over 11,100 images of the lunar landscape during its six-week mission.
Lunar Surveyor 1 Panorama: Flamsteed region in Oceanus Procellarum, June 1966
Surveyor 1 was the first spacecraft from the United States to perform a controlled landing on the surface of the Moon, at 2.45 S, 316.79 E. Surveyor 1 took more than 11,100 images of the lunar landscape during its 6-week mission. This panorama was scanned from a photographic print of a hand-assembled mosaic, then digitally reconstructed and cleaned of visual defects by Philip Stooke.
NASA / Philip Stooke, University of Western Ontario
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Lunar Orbiter 1
Successful lunar orbiter (USA)
Launched: August 10, 1966
The spacecraft sent back high-quality images (by television) of over two
million square miles of lunar surface, including the first detailed images
of potential Apollo landing sites. After circling the Moon 527 times in 77
days, engineers on Earth deliberately crashed the spacecraft onto the Moon's
surface, so that it wouldn't interfere with the upcoming manned missions.
Luna 11
Successful lunar orbiter (USSR)
Launched: August 24, 1966
Lunar orbit: August 27, 1966
The spacecraft, designed to test new technology, completed 277 orbits before
its mission was terminated on October 1, 1966.
Surveyor 2
Failed lunar lander (USA)
Launched: September 20, 1966
Lunar impact: September 22, 1966
Just before touchdown, one of the thrusters on the spacecraft malfunctioned
during a mid course correction and Surveyor 2 tumbled out of control. It crashed
into the moon, southeast of the crater Copernicus.
Luna 12
Successful lunar orbiter (USSR)
Launched: October 22, 1966
Lunar orbit: October 25, 1966
The primary mission of the spacecraft was to photograph the lunar surface
and it did, taking 1,100 pictures including images of the Sea of Rains and
the area surrounding the crater Aristarchus. The mission was terminated on
January 19, 1967 after 602 orbits.
Lunar Orbiter 2
Successful lunar orbiter (USA)
Launched: November 6, 1966
Lunar orbit: November 6, 1966
Lunar impact: October 11, 1967
Lunar Orbiter 2 went into lunar orbit and took over 800 pictures during
its mission, including an oblique view of the crater Copernicus that was voted
one of the best images of the century by the press. The spacecraft was deliberately
sent crashing into the lunar surface on October 11, 1967, bringing to an end
the successful mission.
Luna 13
Successful lunar lander (USSR)
Launched: December 21, 1966
Lunar landing: December 24, 1966
Luna 13 bounced to a landing on the lunar surface coming to a rest in the
Oceans of Storms between the craters Selencus and Craft. The lander collected
soil samples and conducted experiments to determine the soil density and radioactivity.
The mission ended on December 30, 1966, when the spacecraft's supplies were
depleted.
Lunar Orbiter 3
Successful lunar orbiter (USA)
Launched: February 4, 1967
Lunar orbit: February 8, 1967
The spacecraft's orbit was altered several times during the mission to
give controllers on Earth more experience with communications during lunar
orbit. Lunar Orbiter 3 was able to photograph Surveyor 2 on the surface. The
mission ended on October 9, 1967, when controllers deliberately crashed the
spacecraft into the Moon.
Surveyor 3
Successful lunar lander (USA)
Launched: April 17, 1967
Lunar landing: April 20, 1967
As Surveyor 3 came in for a soft landing on the Moon one of its thrusters
didn't turn off at the proper time and the spacecraft bounced a couple of
times before it came to rest in the Ocean of Storms. Onboard the spacecraft,
a scoop was used to collect soil samples, and a camera took over 6,300 images.
Lunar Surveyor 3 Panorama: Mare Insularum, April 1967
As Surveyor 3 came in for a soft landing on the Moon, one of its thrusters didn't turn off at the proper time; as a result the spacecraft bounced several times before it came to rest at 3.01 S, 336.66 E. The last little bounce produced the imprint above the footpad in the center of this panorama. The first bounce was over the ridge and was not visible to Surveyor's camera. A scoop was used to scuff the soil -- the first use of a robotic arm on another world. The camera took more than 6,300 images. Unfortunately, the images were severely compromised by the presence of dust on the mirror. This panorama was scanned from a photographic print of a hand-assembled mosaic, then digitally reconstructed and cleaned of visual defects by Philip Stooke.
NASA / Philip Stooke, University of Western Ontario
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Lunar Orbiter 4
Successful lunar orbiter (USA)
Launched: May 4, 1967
Lunar orbit: May 8, 1967
The spacecraft was the first to take pictures of the Moon's south pole.
It took images from orbit for eight months before controllers sent the spacecraft
crashing to the lunar surface. Crashing the spacecraft into the Moon kept
an area around the Moon clear of debris that might compromise the upcoming
manned missions.
Surveyor 4
Failed lunar lander (USA)
Launched: July 14, 1967
Controllers lost contact with Surveyor 4 just two and a half minutes before
it was to touch down in Sinus Medii.
Lunar Orbiter 5
Successful lunar orbiter (USA)
Launched: August 1, 1967
Lunar orbit: August 5, 1967
Upon completion of this mission, over 99% of the Moon's surface had been
mapped (with data from all previous missions combined). The mission ended
when controllers sent the spacecraft crashing to the lunar surface on January
31, 1968.
Surveyor 5
Successful lunar lander (USA)
Launched: September 8, 1967
Lunar landing: September 10, 1967
Despite a serious helium leak that occurred during its trip to the Moon,
controllers were able to bring Surveyor 5 to a success touchdown. Once on
the ground, controllers ordered the spacecraft to fire its engine to test
the composition of the soil beneath the lander. The test firing blew away
a few clumps of soil, but did not create a crater. The final transmission
from the spacecraft was received on December 17, 1967.
Lunar Surveyor 5 Panorama: Mare Tranquilitatis, September 1967
Despite a serious helium leak that occurred during its trip to the Moon, controllers were able to bring Surveyor 5 to a successful landing in Mare Tranquillitatis at 1.41 N, 23.18 E. The footpad visible to the right of center slid down the wall of the little crater where the lander set down, digging a trench. Once on the ground, controllers ordered the spacecraft to fire its engine to test the composition of the soil beneath the lander. The test firing blew away a few clumps of soil but did not create a crater. This panorama was scanned from a photographic print of a hand-assembled mosaic, then digitally reconstructed and cleaned of visual defects by Philip Stooke.
NASA / Philip Stooke, University of Western Ontario
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Surveyor 6
Successful lunar lander (USA)
Launched: November 7, 1967
Lunar landing: November 9, 1967
Surveyor 6 touched down in Sinus Medii. Once on the surface, the spacecraft
took a series of pictures and soil samples. Then, on November 17, controllers
ordered the spacecraft's engines to fire, lifting Surveyor 6 off the lunar
surface 3 meters (10 feet) and setting it down again a few feet from the original
landing site. The spacecraft then took pictures of the former landing site,
checking for evidence of a crater created by the rocket's exhaust. No crater
was found, indicating that the Moon's surface was solid. Last contact with
the spacecraft was December 14, 1967.
Lunar Surveyor 6 Panorama: Sinus Medii, November 1967
Surveyor 6 touched down in Sinus Medii, at 0.49 N, 358.60 E. Once on the surface, the spacecraft took a series of pictures and soil samples. Then, on November 17, controllers ordered the spacecraft's engines to fire, lifting Surveyor 6 off the lunar surface 3 meters (10 feet) and setting it down again a few feet from the original landing site. The spacecraft then took pictures of the former landing site, checking for evidence of a crater created by the rocket's exhaust. No crater was found, indicating that the Moon's surface was solid enough to support a manned landing. This panorama was scanned from a photographic print of a hand-assembled mosaic, then digitally reconstructed and cleaned of visual defects by Philip Stooke.
NASA / Philip Stooke, University of Western Ontario
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Surveyor 7
Successful lunar lander (USA)
Launched: Jan. 7, 1968
Lunar landing: January 9, 1968
Surveyor 7 landed in the lunar highlands near the crater Tycho. Scientists
used the scoop on the spacecraft to "weigh" lunar rocks, based on
how much current was needed to lift each rock. Images sent back from the spacecraft
indicated, for the first time, that some of the lunar rocks had been molten
at some time in their history. The mission was successfully completed on February
21, 1968.
Lunar Surveyor 7 Panorama: Tycho Crater Rim, January 1968
Surveyor 7 landed in the lunar highlands, near the north rim of the crater Tycho, at 40.86 S, Longitude 348.53 E. Scientists used the scoop on the spacecraft to weigh lunar rocks, based on how much current was needed to lift each rock. Images sent back from the spacecraft indicated, for the first time, that some of the lunar rocks had been molten at some time in their history. This panorama was scanned from a photographic print of a hand-assembled mosaic, then digitally reconstructed and cleaned of visual defects by Philip Stooke.
NASA / Philip Stooke, University of Western Ontario
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Luna 14
Successful lunar orbiter (USSR)
Launched: April 7, 1968
Lunar orbit: April 10, 1968
The spacecraft took images of the Moon and studied the lunar gravitational
field.
Zond 5
Successful lunar flyby and back (USSR)
Launched: September 15, 1968
Zond 5 left Earth orbit, flew around the Moon and returned to our planet,
splashing down in the Indian Ocean. The spacecraft was recovered and taken
back to the USSR for study. Not much information was released about this mission,
but many believed Zond 5 was one of the last steps before the Soviet Union
landed cosmonauts on the Moon.
Zond 6
Successful lunar flyby and back (USSR)
Launched: November 10, 1968
Zond 6 was seen by the western powers as being the Soviet Union's final
test before launching cosmonauts to the Moon. Once the spacecraft left Earth
orbit, it took 2 days to reach the Moon. There, it took pictures as it swung
close to the lunar surface. Zond 6 then returned to Earth. Instead of splashing
down in the Indian Ocean, like the previous Zond 5 mission, controllers programmed
the spacecraft to bounce off the atmosphere and redirected the capsule to
parachute to a landing within Soviet territory.
Apollo 8
Successful manned lunar orbit (USA)
Launched: December 21, 1968
Lunar orbit: December 24, 1968
Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders were the first
humans to leave the Earth and travel to the Moon. They arrived at the Moon,
completed 10 orbits, and returned to Earth on December 27, 1968.
Zond 1969A
Failed lunar flyby and back (USSR)
Launched: January 20, 1969
The spacecraft's second stage rocket shut down early and the rocket failed
to achieve Earth orbit.
Luna 1969A
Failed lunar rover (USSR)
Launched: February 19, 1969
The spacecraft's rocket exploded shortly after launch.
Zond L1S-1
Failed lunar orbiter (USSR)
Launched: February 21, 1969
The spacecraft's rocket exploded shortly after launch.
Luna 1969B
Failed lunar sample return (USSR)
Launched: April 15, 1969
The spacecraft's rocket apparently exploded on the launch pad.
Apollo 10
Successful manned lunar orbit (USA)
Launched: May 18, 1969
Lunar orbit: May 21 1969
Astronauts Thomas Stafford, John Young, and Eugene Cernan went into lunar
orbit where they tested procedures for the first moon landing. Apollo 10
splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on May 26, 1969.
Luna 1969C
Failed lunar sample return (USSR)
Launched: June 14, 1969
The spacecraft's rocket exploded shortly after launch.
Luna 15
Failed lunar sample return (USSR)
Launched: July 13, 1969
Luna 15 was launched in a veil of secrecy only three days before Apollo
11. The Soviets did not reveal the target or mission of Luna 15 causing
some concern on the part of the United States. Would Luna 15's mission interfere
with Apollo 11? Where would it land? Would there be communication interference?
Just two hours before the liftoff of Apollo 11, Luna 15 began its descent
to the surface in the Sea of Crisis. The spacecraft crashed landed on the
lunar surface. The Soviets issued a statement claiming the research part
of the mission was complete, but there had been hints that Luna 15 was intended
to be sample return mission. No samples were returned.
Apollo 11
Successful first manned lunar landing (USA)
Launched: July 16, 1969
Lunar landing: July 20, 1969
While astronaut Michael Collins orbited overhead, Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin
became the first men to land on the Moon, within the Sea of Tranquility.
They remained on the lunar surface for a little over 21 hours and collected
20 kg (44 lb) of samples. Apollo 11 returned to Earth on July 24, 1969, splashing
down in the Pacific Ocean.
Zond 7
Successful lunar flyby and back (USSR)
Launched: August 7 (or 8), 1969
Earth landing August 14, 1969
Zond 7 flew to the Moon and back, taking color pictures of the Earth and
lunar surface along the way. The spacecraft soft-landed in Zazakhstan.
Cosmos 300
Failed lunar sample return (USSR)
Launched: September 23, 1969
The spacecraft reached Earth orbit, but then its rocket failed and the
spacecraft was unable to continue on to the Moon.
Cosmos 305
Failed lunar sample return (USSR)
Launched: October 22, 1969
The spacecraft's rocket failed once it had reached Earth orbit and it was
unable to continue on to the Moon.
Apollo 12
Successful manned lunar landing (USA)
Launched: November 14, 1969
Lunar landing: November 19 1969
Returned to Earth: November 24, 1969
While astronaut Richard Gordon orbited overhead, Charles Conrad and Alan
Bean landed on the Moon. Apollo 12 touched down in the Ocean of Storms,
within walking distance of Surveyor 3. The astronauts were on the lunar surface
for 31.5 hours and collected 34 kg (75 lb) of samples.
Apollo 13
Failed manned Moon Landing (USA)
Launched: April 11, 1970
When Apollo 13 was half way to the Moon, an explosion in the spacecraft's
Service Module required mission control to cancel the scheduled Moon landing
and focus on bringing astronauts James Lovell, Fred Haise and John Swigert
safely home. The mission was called a successful failure. While they failed
to land on the Moon, the men did return home safely.
Luna 16
Successful lunar sample return (USSR)
Launched: September 12, 1970
Lunar landing: September 20, 1970
Returned to Earth: September 24, 1970
Luna 16 was the first robotic mission to land on the Moon, collect samples
of dust and rock, and return those samples to Earth. Luna 16 was also the
first spacecraft to land in the lunar darkness. The spacecraft landed in
the Sea of Fertility. After collecting dust and rock samples, the spacecraft
was launched back into space 26 hours later. It returned to Earth with a soft
landing on bringing back 101 grams of Moon rocks.
Zond 8
Successful lunar flyby and back (USSR)
Launched: October 20, 1970
Lunar flyby: October 24, 1970
Earth landing: October 27, 1970
Zond 8 flew to the Moon and back, taking color pictures of the Earth and lunar
surface along the way. The spacecraft splashed down in the Indian Ocean.
Luna 17 / Lunokhod 1
Successful lunar rover (USSR)
Launched: November 10, 1970
Lunar landing: November 15, 1970
Luna 17 soft landed on the Moon in the Sea of Rains. Two ramps extended
away from the spacecraft, allowing the Lunokhod rover to roll onto the
lunar terrain. Over the course of 11 lunar cycles, the remote controlled
rover traveled over 10.5 kilometers (6 miles) and sent back 20,000 television
pictures of the lunar landscape. The rover was officially shut down on
October 4, 1971.
Apollo 14
Successful manned landing on the Moon (USA)
Launched: Jan. 31, 1971
Lunar landing: February 5, 1971
Returned to Earth: February 9, 1971
While astronaut Stuart Roosa orbited overhead, Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell
landed on the Moon. Apollo 14 touched down in the Fra Mauro highlands, the
original landing for Apollo 13. The astronauts were on the lunar surface for
33 hours and collected 42 kg (94 lb) of samples.
Apollo 15
Successful manned lunar landing (USA)
Launched: July 26, 1971
Lunar landing: July 30, 1971
Returned to Earth: August 7, 1971.
While astronaut James Irwin orbited overhead, David Scott and Alfred Worden
landed on the Moon in the Hadley Rille region. Apollo 15 was the first lander
to carry a lunar rover. The astronauts drove the rover almost 28 kilometers
(17 miles). The astronauts were on the lunar surface for almost 67 hours and
collected 77 kg (169 lb) of samples.
Luna 18
Failed lunar landing (USSR)
Launched: September 2, 1971
Lunar orbit: September 7, 1971
After completing 54 orbits of the Moon, the spacecraft fired its braking
thrusters and began its descent to the lunar surface. Communications were
lost when the spacecraft impacted with the surface.
Luna 19
Successful lunar orbiter (USSR)
Launched: September 28, 1971
Lunar orbit: October 3, 1971
Luna 19 studied the lunar environment, including: lunar radiation levels,
mass concentrations, the solar wind, etc.
Sample return capsule from Luna 20
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Luna 20
Successful lunar sample return (USSR)
Launched: February 14, 1972
Lunar landing: February 21, 1972
Returned to Earth: February 25, 1972
Luna 20 soft landed in the Apollonius highlands near the Sea of Fertility.
The spacecraft collected samples and then lifted off the next day. The
sealed capsule containing 30 grams of lunar rocks and dust landed in the Soviet
Union and was retrieved the following day.
Apollo 16
Successful manned lunar landing (USA)
Launched: April 16, 1972
Lunar landing: April 21, 1972
Returned to Earth: April 27, 1972
While astronaut Thomas Mattingly orbited overhead, John Young and Charles
Duke landed in the Descartes region on the Moon. Apollo 16 carried a lunar
rover that astronauts drove 27 kilometers (16 miles). They were on the lunar
surface for 71 hours and collected almost 95 kg (209 lb) of samples.
Soyuz L3
Failure lunar orbiter and test vehicle (USSR)
Launched: November 23, 1972
Soyuz L3 was designed to test a soyez capsule that was to function as the
base for a lunar lander. 90 seconds after launch, 6 of the 30 engines shut
down, triggering a catastrophic failure of the launch vehicle.
Apollo 17
Successful manned lunar landing (USA)
Launched: December 7, 1972
Lunar landing: December 11, 1972
Return to Earth: December 19, 1972
While astronaut Ronald Evans orbited overhead, Eugene Cernan and Harrison
Schmitt landed in the Taurus-Littrow region on the Moon. Schmitt was the
first geologist to land on the Moon. Cernan and Schmitt drove 30 kilometers
(18 miles) in their lunar rover, collected 110 kg (242 lb) of samples and
spend 75 hours on the lunar surface. Apollo 17 brought to a close the human
exploration of the Moon - to date.
Luna 21 / Lunokhod 2
Successful lunar rover (USSR)
Launched: January. 8, 1973
Lunar landing: January 15, 1973
The rover first took a panoramic shot of the landing site, before it rolled
off of its protective shell and onto the lunar surface. The rover was powered
by solar panels and kept warm at night by a radioactive heat source. The
mission lasted 4 months, during which it took over 80,000 TV pictures and
covered 37 kilometers (22 miles) of lunar terrain.
Luna 22
Successful lunar orbiter (USSR)
Launched: May 29, 1974
Lunar landing: June 2, 1974
During its mission, the spacecraft studied the Moon's magnetic field, gamma
ray emissions and gravitational field. The mission ended in November of
1975.
Luna 23
Failed lunar sample return (USSR)
Launched: October 28, 1974
Designed as a sample return mission, Luna 23 was damaged during its moon
landing on November 6, 1974 and was unable to collect samples. The spacecraft
transmitted data for 3 days before falling silent.
Luna 24
Successful lunar sample return (USSR)
Launched: August 9, 1976
Lunar landing: August 18, 1976
Returned to Earth: August 22, 1976
Luna 24 softlanded in the Sea of Crises. The spacecraft collected 170g
of lunar dust and rocks and returned to Earth.
Hiten / Muses A
Successful lunar trajectory test (Japan)
Launched: January. 24, 1990
Hiten was launched into a highly elliptical Earth orbit that took it past
the Moon 10 times. It released Hagoromo, a small spacecraft that was to go
into lunar orbit, but its transmitter failed before it reached the Moon. The
Japanese used Hiten to test various technologies for future lunar missions.
The spacecraft was intentionally crashed into the moon on April 10, 1993.
Clementine
Successful lunar orbiter (USA)
Launched: April 25, 1994
Clementine was launched by the United States Department of Defense to demonstrate
new technologies. The spacecraft flew by Earth twice during the first month
of its mission before going into orbit around the Moon. Once in lunar orbit,
Clementine began its primary 70-day mapping mission. Then, the spacecraft
entered a circumlunar orbit and was to have flown on to an encounter with
the asteroid Geographos in July, 1994. However, a malfunctioning thruster
depleted all of its maneuvering fuel and the spacecraft was stuck in Earth
orbit. It lost power in June 1994, after studying the Van Allen radiation
belts.
Lunar Prospector
Successful lunar orbiter (USA)
Launched: January 7, 1998
Lunar Prospector was designed to go into a low polar orbit around the Moon
and search for water ice and other minerals in the dark areas of craters that
get very little, if any sunlight. During its 19 month mission, Lunar Prospector
completed a map of the Moon's surface composition. On July 31, 1999, mission
controllers crashed the spacecraft into a crater near the south pole. Observers
from Earth watched for any signs of water vapor that might have been released
during the impact, but none was seen. You can build your own scale model of
the Lunar Prospector spacecraft - purchase
the Lunar Prospector model through The Planetary Society store.
SMART-1
ESA - AOES Medialab
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Successful first ESA lunar orbiter (ESA)
Launched: September 27, 2003
Lunar orbit: November 15, 2004
SMART-1 is powered only by an ion (solar-electric) engine and is the first
of the European Space Agency's Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology,
a program to develop a new breed of spacecraft that will demonstrate and test
innovative technologies for future deep space missions.
Lunar orbiter (JAXA, Japan)
Launched: September 14, 2007
Lunar orbit: October 3, 2007
Kaguya, also known as SELENE (SELenological and
ENgineering Explorer), consists of three spacecraft (a main orbiter and two
much smaller satellites), which will create the most detailed map of the Moon's
gravity field yet acquired. The spacecraft will also study the composition and
topography of the lunar surface; map the magnetic field and plasmasphere;
and study the radiation environments of Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn. It
carries an HDTV camera for obtaining HD movies of Moon and Earth.
Lunar orbiter (CNSA, China)
Launched: October 24, 2007
Lunar orbit: November 5, 2007
Chang'e 1 is China's first mission beyond Earth orbit. It is intended
to expand the capabilities of China's space program, as well as to develop
a topographic map of the Moon; map the composition of the Moon; measure
the depth of the lunar soil; and observe the space environment between
the Moon and Earth.
Lunar orbiter (ISRO, India)
Launch: October 22, 2008
Lunar orbit insertion: November 8, 2008
Chandrayaan-1 is India's first satellite to leave Earth orbit. The mission
is intended to expand the capabilities of India's space agency, ISRO, as
well as to accomplish science goals such as mapping radioactive isotopes
across the Moon. The mission's budget included the establishment of the
first Indian deep space radio communications antenna.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
NASA / GSFC
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Future lunar orbiter (NASA)
Launch: planned for February/March 2009
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will be NASA's first mission designed to capture
high-resolution images of the entire surface of the Moon since the end
of the Lunar Orbiter program in 1967. The images will support the selection
of landing sites for future manned missions and rovers. It will also carry
other instruments designed to support a future human presence on the Moon,
such as radiation environment sensors.
LCROSS (Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite)
Future lunar impactors (NASA)
Launch: planned for February/March 2009
LCROSS will launch aboard the same rocket as Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
After launch, the LCROSS shepherding spacecraft will separate
from the upper stage of its launch vehicle, which will be directed toward
an impact into a permanently shadowed region of one of the lunar poles.
After watching the impact, the shepherding spacecraft will also crash into
the lunar pole, an event that will be watched by other orbiters and ground-based
observatories.
Chang'e 2
Future lunar landers (CNSA, China)
Launch: planned for 2009
The landers will carry small rovers to the lunar surface.
Luna Glob
Future orbiter / soft lander / 12 penetrators (Russia)
Launch: planned for 2009
This ambitious mission includes an orbiter, lander, and penetrators that
will set up a seismic network on the Moon.
Grail
Future orbiters (NASA)
Launch: Planned for 2011
Grail will fly twin spacecraft in tandem orbits around the Moon for several
months to measure its gravity field in unprecedented detail.
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