List of missions to the Moon

The first image taken of the far side of the Moon, returned by Luna 3

As part of human exploration of the Moon, numerous space missions have been undertaken to study Earth's natural satellite. Of the Moon landings; Luna 2 was the first spacecraft to reach its surface successfully, intentionally impacting the Moon on 13 September 1959. In 1966, Luna 9 became the first spacecraft to achieve a controlled soft landing, while Luna 10 became the first mission to enter orbit.

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

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

Missions to the Moon have been conducted by the Soviet Union, United States, European Space Agency, Japan, India and the People's Republic of China. The Moon has also been visited by five spacecraft not dedicated to studying it; four spacecraft have flown past it to gain gravity assists, and a radio telescope, Explorer 49, was placed into selenocentric orbit in order to use the Moon to block interference from terrestrial radio sources.

Missions to date

Spacecraft Launch Date[1] Carrier rocket[2] Operator Mission Outcome
Pioneer 0
(Able I)[3]
17 August 1958 Thor DM-18 Able I[3] United States USAF Orbiter Launch failure
First attempted launch beyond Earth orbit; failed to orbit due to turbopump gearbox malfunction resulting in first stage explosion.[3] Reached apogee of 16 kilometres (9.9 mi)[4]
E-1 No.1 23 September 1958 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Launch failure
Failed to orbit; rocket disintegrated due to excessive vibration[3][5]
Pioneer 1
(Able II)[3]
11 October 1958 Thor DM-18 Able I[3] United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit; premature second stage cutoff due to accelerometer failure. Later known as Pioneer 1.[3] Reached apogee of 113,800 kilometres (70,700 mi).[6]
E-1 No.2 11 October 1958 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Launch failure
Failed to orbit; carrier rocket exploded due to excessive vibration.[3][5]
Pioneer 2
(Able III)
8 November 1958 Thor DM-18 Able I United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit; premature second stage cutoff due to erroneous command by ground controllers; third stage failed to ignite due to broken electrical connection[3] Reached apogee of 1,550 kilometres (960 mi).[7]
E-1 No.3 4 December 1958 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Launch failure
Failed to orbit; seal failure in hydrogen peroxide pump cooling system resulted in core stage underperformance[3][5]
Pioneer 3 6 December 1958 Juno II United States NASA Flyby Launch failure
Failed to orbit; premature first stage cutoff.[3] Reached apogee of 102,360 kilometres (63,600 mi).[8]
Mechta
(E-1 No.4)
2 January 1959 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Launch failure
Carrier rocket guidance problem resulted in failure to impact Moon, flew past in heliocentric orbit, later known as Luna 1[9] Closest approach 5,995 kilometres (3,725 mi) on 4 January.[10]
Pioneer 4 3 March 1959 Juno II United States NASA Flyby Partial failure
Second stage overperformance resulted in flyby at greater altitude than expected, out of instrument range, with 58,983 kilometres of distance.[9] Closest approach at 22:25 UTC on 4 March. First U.S. spacecraft to leave Earth orbit.[11]
E-1A No.1 18 June 1959 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Launch failure
Failed to orbit; guidance system malfunction[9]
Luna 2
(E-1A No.2)
12 September 1959 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Impactor Success
Successful impact at 21:02 on 14 September 1959. First spacecraft to reach lunar surface[12]
Luna 3
(E-2A No.1)
4 October 1959 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Flyby Success
Returned first images of the far side of the Moon[13]
P-3
Able IVB
26 November 1959 Atlas-D Able United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit;[14] payload fairing disintegrated due to design fault[9]
E-3 No.1 15 April 1960 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Flyby Launch failure
Failed to orbit; premature third stage cutoff[15]
E-3 No.2 16 April 1960 Luna Soviet Union OKB-1 Flyby Launch failure
Failed to orbit; rocket disintegrated ten seconds after launch[15]
P-30
(Able VA)
25 September 1960 Atlas-D Able United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit; second stage oxidiser system malfunction resulting in premature cutoff[15][16] payload fairing disintegrated due to design fault[9]
P-31
(Able VB)
15 December 1960 Atlas-D Able United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit;[17] second stage ignited while first stage was still attached and burning, vehicle exploded[15]
Ranger 3
(P-34)
26 January 1962 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Spacecraft failure
Partial launch failure due to guidance problem; attempt to correct using spacecraft's engine resulted in it missing the Moon by 36,793 kilometres (22,862 mi)[18][19]
Ranger 4
(P-35)
23 April 1962 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Spacecraft failure
Failed to deploy solar panels, ran out of power ten hours after launch; incidental impact on the far side of the Moon on 26 April[18][20]
Ranger 5
(P-36)
18 October 1962 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Spacecraft failure
Solar panels erroneously disengaged from power system, failed 8 34 hours after launch when batteries were depleted.[18] Missed the Moon as course correction was not completed[21]
E-6 No.2 4 January 1963 Molniya-L Soviet Union OKB-1 Lander Launch failure
Failed to depart Low Earth orbit;[22] guidance system power failure prevented upper stage ignition[23]
E-6 No.3 3 February 1963 Molniya-L Soviet Union OKB-1 Lander Launch failure
Failed to orbit; guidance failure[23]
Luna 4
(E-6 No.4)
2 April 1963 Molniya-L Soviet Union OKB-1 Lander Spacecraft failure
Failed to perform mid-course correction,[23] remained in high Earth orbit until given escape velocity by orbital perturbation[24]
Ranger 6
(P-54)
30 January 1964 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Spacecraft failure
Impacted on 2 February 1964, failed to return images due to power system failure[25][26]
E-6 No.6 21 March 1964 Molniya-M Soviet Union OKB-1 Lander Launch failure
Failed to orbit; third stage underperformed due to oxidiser valve failure[25]
E-6 No.5 20 April 1964 Molniya-M Soviet Union OKB-1 Lander Launch failure
Failed to orbit; power failure caused by broken connection resulted in premature third stage cutoff[25]
Ranger 7 28 July 1964 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Success
Impacted on 30 July 1964 at 13:25:48 UTC[27]
Ranger 8 17 February 1965 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Success
Impacted on 20 February 1965 at 09:57:37 UTC[28][29]
Kosmos 60
(E-6 No.9)
12 March 1965 Molniya-L Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Launch failure
Upper stage failed to restart due to guidance system short-circuit.[28] Failed to depart low Earth orbit[30]
Ranger 9 21 March 1965 Atlas LV-3 Agena-B United States NASA Impactor Success
Impacted on 24 March 1965 at 14:08:20 UTC[28][31]
E-6 No.8 10 April 1965 Molniya-L Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Launch failure
Third stage failed to ignite due to loss of oxidiser pressure, failed to orbit[28]
Luna 5
(E-6 No.10)
9 May 1965 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Spacecraft failure
Loss of control after gyroscope malfunction,[28] failed to decelerate for landing and impacted the Moon at 19:10 UTC on 12 May 1965.[32]
Luna 6
(E-6 No.7)
8 June 1965 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Spacecraft failure
Engine failed to shut down after performing mid-course correction manoeuvre,[28] flew past the Moon in heliocentric orbit.[33]
Zond 3
(3MV-4 No.3)
18 July 1965 Molniya Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Success
Flew past the Moon on 20 July 1965 at a distance of 9,200 kilometres (5,700 mi).[34] Conducted technology demonstration for future planetary missions.[28]
Luna 7
(E-6 No.11)
4 October 1965 Molniya Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Spacecraft failure
Attitude control failure shortly before landing prevented controlled descent; impacted the lunar surface 22:08:24 UTC on 7 October 1965.[28][35]
Luna 8
(E-6 No.12)
3 December 1965 Molniya Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Spacecraft failure
Landing airbag punctured, resulting in loss of attitude control shortly before planned touchdown,[28] impacted Moon at 21:51:30 UTC on 6 December 1965[36]
Luna 9
(E-6 No.13)
31 January 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Success
First spacecraft to land successfully on the Moon; touchdown at 18:45:30 UTC on 3 February 1966.[37] Returned data until 22:55 UTC on 6 February.[38]
Kosmos 111
(E-6S No.204)
1 March 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Launch failure
Upper stage lost attitude control and failed to ignite;[38] spacecraft never left low Earth orbit[39]
Luna 10
(E-6S No.206)
31 March 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Success
Entered orbit at 18:44 UTC on 3 April 1966, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit the Moon.[40] Continued to return data until 30 May.[38]
Surveyor 1 30 May 1966 Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Success
Landed in Oceanus Procellarum at 06:17:36 UTC on 2 June 1966.[38] Returned data until loss of power on 13 July.[41]
Explorer 33
(AIMP-D)
1 July 1966 Delta E1 United States NASA Orbiter Launch failure
Magnetospheric probe; rocket imparted greater velocity than had been planned, leaving spacecraft unable to enter orbit.[38] Repurposed for Earth orbit mission which was completed successfully.[42]
Lunar Orbiter 1 10 August 1966 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D United States NASA Orbiter Partial failure
Orbital insertion at around 15:36 UTC on 14 August. Deorbited early due to lack of fuel and to avoid communications interference with the next mission, impacted the Moon at 13:30 UTC on 29 October 1966.[43]
Luna 11
(E-6LF No.101)
21 August 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Partial failure[lower-alpha 1]
Entered orbit on 28 August 1966. Failed to return images; other instruments operated correctly.[38] Conducted gamma ray and X-ray observations to study the composition of the Moon, investigated the lunar gravitational field, the presence of meteorites in the lunar environment and the radiation environment at the Moon. Ceased operations on 1 October 1966 after power was depleted.[44]
Surveyor 2 20 September 1966 Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Spacecraft failure
One thruster failed to ignite during mid-course correction manoeuvre resulting in loss of control.[38] Impacted the Moon at 03:18 UTC on 23 September 1966.[45]
Luna 12
(E-6LF No.102)
22 October 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Success
Entered orbit on 25 October 1966 and returned data until 19 January 1967.[46] Completed photography mission intended for Luna 11.[38]
Lunar Orbiter 2 6 November 1966 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D United States NASA Orbiter Success
Entered orbit at about 19:51 UTC on 10 November 1966 to begin photographic mapping mission. Impacted on the far side of the lunar surface following deorbit burn on 11 October 1967 at end of mission.[47]
Luna 13
(E-6M No.205)
21 December 1966 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander Success
Successfully landed in Oceanus Procellarum at 18:01 UTC on 24 December 1966.[38] Returned images from the surface and studied the lunar soil.[48] Operated until depletion of power at 06:31 UTC on 28 December.[38]
Lunar Orbiter 3 5 February 1967 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D United States NASA Orbiter Success
Entered orbit at 21:54 UTC on 8 February 1967. Deorbited at end of mission and impacted the Moon on 9 October 1967.[49]
Surveyor 3 17 April 1967 Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Success
Landed at 00:04 UTC on 20 April 1967 and operated until 3 May.[50][51] Visited by Apollo 12 astronauts in 1969, with some parts removed for return to Earth.[52]
Lunar Orbiter 4 4 May 1967 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D United States NASA Orbiter Success
Entered orbit at 21:54 UTC on 8 May 1967, operated until 17 July. Decayed from orbit, with lunar impact occurring on 6 October 1967.[50][53]
Surveyor 4 14 July 1967 Atlas LV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Spacecraft failure
Contact with spacecraft lost at 02:03 UTC on 17 July, two and a half minutes before scheduled landing.[50] NASA determined that the spacecraft may have exploded, otherwise it impacted the Moon.[54]
Explorer 35
(AIMP-E)
19 July 1967 Delta E1 United States NASA Orbiter Success
Magnetospheric probe, studying the Moon and interplanetary space. Deactivated on 27 June 1973.[55] Presumed to have impacted the Moon during the 1970s.[56]
Lunar Orbiter 5 1 August 1967 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D United States NASA Orbiter Success
Final mission in the Lunar Orbiter series, entered selenocentric orbit on 5 August at 16:48 UTC and conducted a photographic survey until 18 August. Deorbited and impacted the Moon on 31 January 1968.[57]
Surveyor 5 8 September 1967 Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Success
Landed in Mare Tranquillitatis at 00:46:44 UTC on 11 September. Last signals received at 04:30 UTC on 17 December 1967.[58]
7K-L1 No.4L 27 September 1967 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Launch failure
Technology demonstration for planned manned missions. Failed to reach orbit after a blocked propellant line caused one of the first stage engines not to ignite.[50]
Surveyor 6 7 November 1967 Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Success
Landed in Sinus Medii at 01:01:04 UTC on 10 November.[50] Made brief flight from lunar surface at 10:32 UTC on 17 November, followed by second landing after travelling 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in). Last contact at 19:14 UTC on 14 December.[59]
7K-L1 No.5L 22 November 1967 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Launch failure
Technology demonstration for planned manned missions; unable to achieve orbit after second stage engine failed to ignite.[50]
Surveyor 7 7 January 1968 Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D United States NASA Lander Success
Final Surveyor mission.[60] Landed 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Tycho crater at 01:05:36 UTC on 10 January. Operated until 21 February 1968.[61]
E-6LS No.112 7 February 1968 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit after third stage ran out of fuel.[61]
Luna 14
(E-6LS No.113)
6 February 1969 Molniya-M Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Success
Tested communications for proposed manned missions and studied the mass concentration of the Moon. Entered orbit on 10 April at 19:25 UTC.[62]
7K-L1 No.7L 22 April 1968 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Launch failure
Technology demonstration for planned manned missions. Failed to orbit after second stage engine incorrectly commanded to shut down; although spacecraft was recovered using its prototype launch escape system.[61]
Zond 5
(7K-L1 No.9L)
14 September 1968 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby, circled Success
Two tortoises and other life forms on board a technology demonstration for planned manned missions. Made a closest approach of 1,850 kilometres (1,150 mi) on 18 September, and circled the moon before returning to Earth. Landed in the Indian Ocean on 21 September at 16:08 UTC, becoming first Lunar spacecraft to be recovered successfully and carried the first Earth life to travel to and around the moon.[63]
Zond 6
(7K-L1 No.12L)
10 November 1968 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Spacecraft failure
Technology demonstration for planned manned missions. Flyby occurred on 14 November, with a closest approach of 2,420 kilometres (1,500 mi).[64] Reentered Earth's atmosphere on 17 November however recovery was unsuccessful after parachutes were prematurely jettisoned.[61]
Apollo 8 21 December 1968 Saturn V United States NASA Manned Orbiter Success
First manned mission to the Moon; entered orbit around the Moon with four-minute burn beginning at 09:59:52 UTC on 24 December. Completed ten orbits of the Moon before returning to Earth with an engine burn at 06:10:16 UTC on 25 December. Landed in the Pacific Ocean at 15:51 UTC on 27 December.[65]
7K-L1 No.13L 20 January 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Launch failure
Technology demonstration for planned manned missions. Failed to orbit after one of the four second stage engines shut down prematurely. Third stage engine also shut down prematurely. The spacecraft was recovered using its launch escape system.[66]
E-8 No.201 19 February 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander/Rover Launch failure
First launch of the Lunokhod rover. Launch vehicle disintegrated 51 seconds after launch and exploded.[66]
7K-L1S No.3 21 February 1969 N1 Soviet Union OKB-1 Orbiter Launch failure
First launch of N1 rocket; intended to orbit the Moon and return to Earth. First stage prematurely shut down 70 seconds after launch; launch vehicle crashed 50 kilometres (31 mi) from launch site. Spacecraft landed some 35 kilometres (22 mi) from the launch pad after successfully using its launch escape system.[66]
Apollo 10 18 May 1969 Saturn V United States NASA Manned Orbiter Success
Dress rehearsal for Apollo 11
E-8-5 No.402 14 June 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Sample return Launch failure
Intended to land on the Moon and return lunar soil sample. Did not reach Earth orbit after fourth stage failed to ignite.[66]
7K-L1S No.5 3 July 1969 N1 Soviet Union OKB-1 Orbiter Launch failure
Intended to orbit the Moon and return to Earth. All first stage engines shut down 10 seconds after launch; launch vehicle crashed and exploded on the launch pad. Spacecraft landed safely 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the launch site after using launch escape sequence.[66]
Luna 15
(E-8-5 No.401)
13 July 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Sample return Spacecraft failure
Reached lunar orbit at 10:00 UTC on 17 July. Descent retro-rocket burn started at 15:47 UTC on 21 July. Contact lost 3 minutes after de-orbit burn; probably crashed on the Moon.[66]
Apollo 11 16 July 1969 Saturn V United States NASA Manned Orbiter/Lander Success
First manned landing on the Moon. LM landed at 20:17 UTC on 20 July 1969
Zond 7
(7K-L1 No.11L)
7 August 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Success
Technology demonstration for planned manned missions. Lunar flyby on 10 August, with a closest approach of 1,200 kilometres (750 mi); returned to Earth and landed in Kazakhstan at 18:13 UTC on 14 August.[66]
Kosmos 300
(E-8-5 No.403)
23 September 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Sample return Launch failure
Third attempt at lunar sample return. After reaching low Earth orbit, the fourth stage engine failed to fire for trans-lunar injection due to oxidiser leak. Spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere about 4 days after launch.[66]
Kosmos 305
(E-8-5 No.404)
22 October 1969 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Sample return Launch failure
Fourth attempt at lunar sample return. After reaching low Earth orbit, the fourth stage engine failed to fire for trans-lunar injection due to control system malfunction. Spacecraft re-entered Earth's atmosphere within one orbit after launch.[66]
Apollo 12 14 November 1969 Saturn V United States NASA Manned Orbiter/Lander Success
E-8-5 No.405 6 February 1970 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Sample return Launch failure
Failed to orbit
Apollo 13 11 April 1970 Saturn V United States NASA Manned Orbiter/Lander Spacecraft failure
Mission aborted following oxygen tank explosion, flew past the Moon without entering orbit and returned to Earth
Luna 16
(E-8-5 No.406)
12 September 1970 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Sample return Success
Zond 8
(7K-L1 No.14L)
20 October 1970 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Flyby Success
Technology demonstration for planned manned missions; returned to Earth successfully
Luna 17
(E-8 No.203)
10 November 1970 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander/Rover Success
Deployed Lunokhod 1
Apollo 14 31 January 1971 Saturn V United States NASA Manned Orbiter/Lander Success
Apollo 15 26 July 1971 Saturn V United States NASA Manned Orbiter/Lander/Rover Success
PFS-1 26 July 1971 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Success
Deployed from Apollo 15
Luna 18
(E-8-5 No.407)
2 September 1971 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Sample return Spacecraft failure
Failed during descent to lunar surface
Luna 19
(E-8LS No.202)
28 September 1971 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Success
Luna 20
(E-8-5 No.408)
14 February 1972 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Sample return Success
Apollo 16 16 April 1972 Saturn V United States NASA Manned Orbiter/Lander/Rover Success
PFS-2 16 April 1972 Saturn V United States NASA Orbiter Success
Deployed from Apollo 16
7K-LOK No.1 3 July 1972 N1 Soviet Union OKB-1 Orbiter Launch failure
Failed to orbit; intended to orbit the Moon and return to Earth
Apollo 17 7 December 1972 Saturn V United States NASA Manned Orbiter/Lander/Rover Success
Last manned Moon landing
Luna 21
(E-8 No.204)
8 January 1973 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Lander/Rover Success
Deployed Lunokhod 2
Explorer 49
(RAE-B)
10 June 1973 Delta 1913 United States NASA Orbiter Success
Radio astronomy spacecraft, operated in selenocentric orbit to avoid interference from terrestrial radio sources
Mariner 10
(RAE-B)
3 November 1973 Delta 1913 United States NASA Flyby Success
Interplanetary spacecraft, mapped lunar north pole to test cameras.
Luna 22
(E-8LS No.206)
29 May 1974 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Orbiter Success
Luna 23
(E-8-5M No.410)
28 October 1974 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Sample return Spacecraft failure
Tipped over upon landing
E-8-5M No.412 16 October 1975 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Sample return Launch failure
Failed to orbit
Luna 24
(E-8-5M No.413)
9 August 1976 Proton-K/D Soviet Union Lavochkin Sample return Success
Final mission of the Luna programme. Entered orbit on 11 August 1976 and landed in Mare Crisium at 16:36 UTC on 18 August. Sample capsule launched at 05:25 UTC on 19 August and recovered 96 12 hours later.[67] Returned 170.1 grams (6.00 oz) of lunar regolith.[68]
ISEE-3
(ICE/Explorer 59)
12 August 1978 Delta 2914 United States NASA Gravity assist N/A
Five flybys in 1982 and 1983 en route to comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner
Hiten
(MUSES-A)
24 January 1990 Mu-3S-II Japan ISAS Flyby/Orbiter Success
Designed for flyby, placed into selenocentric orbit during extended mission after failure of Hagoromo
Hagoromo 24 January 1990 Mu-3S-II Japan ISAS Orbiter Spacecraft failure
Deployed from Hiten. Communications failure; entered selenocentric orbit but returned no data
Geotail 24 July 1992 Delta II 6925 Japan United States ISAS/NASA Gravity assist N/A
Series of flybys to regulate high Earth orbit
Clementine
(DSPSE)
25 January 1994 Titan II (23)G Star-37FM United States USAF/NASA Orbiter Success
Completed Lunar objectives successfully; failed following departure from selenocentric orbit
HGS-1 24 December 1997 Proton-K/DM3 United States Hughes Gravity assist N/A
Communications satellite; made two flybys in May and June 1998 en route to geosynchronous orbit after delivery into wrong orbit
Lunar Prospector
(Discovery 3)
7 January 1998 Athena II United States NASA Orbiter Success
Nozomi
(PLANET-B)
3 July 1998 Mu-5M-V Japan ISAS Gravity assist N/A
Two flybys en route to Mars
SMART-1 27 September 2003 Ariane 5G Europe ESA Orbiter Success
Impacted moon in LQ26 quadrangle at end of mission on 3 September 2006
ARTEMIS P1 17 February 2007 Delta II 7925 United States NASA Orbiter Operational
THEMIS spacecraft moved to selenocentric orbit for extended mission; entered orbit July 2011
ARTEMIS P2 17 February 2007 Delta II 7925 United States NASA Orbiter Operational
THEMIS spacecraft moved to selenocentric orbit for extended mission; entered orbit July 2011
Kaguya
(SELENE)
14 September 2007 H-IIA 2022 Japan JAXA Orbiter Success
Impacted the Moon in LQ30 quadrangle at end of mission on 10 June 2009[69]
Okina
(RSAT)
14 September 2007 H-IIA 2022 Japan JAXA Orbiter Success
Deployed from Kaguya, decayed and impacted moon in LQ08 quadrangle on 12 February 2009 after end of mission
Ouna
(VRAD)
14 September 2007 H-IIA 2022 Japan JAXA Orbiter Success
Deployed from Kaguya, completed operations on 29 June 2009[70] but remains in selenocentric orbit
Chang'e 1 24 October 2007 Chang Zheng 3A China CNSA Orbiter Success
Impacted moon in LQ21 quadrangle on 1 March 2009, at end of mission
Chandrayaan-1 21 October 2008 PSLV-XL India ISRO Orbiter Success
Succeced through mission, terminated the mission in 2009, remains in selenocentric orbit; discovered & confirmed water on Moon before NASA did[71]
Moon Impact Probe 21 October 2008 PSLV-XL India ISRO Impactor Success
Deployed from Chandrayaan-1, impacted Moon in LQ30 quadrangle on 14 November 2008
LRO 18 June 2009 Atlas V 401 United States NASA Orbiter Operational
LCROSS 18 June 2009 Atlas V 401 United States NASA Impactor Success
Observed impact of Centaur upper stage that launched it and LRO, then impacted itself. Impacts in LQ30 quadrangle
Chang'e 2 1 October 2010 Chang Zheng 3C China CNSA Orbiter Success
Following completion of six month Lunar mission, departed selenocentric orbit for Earth–Sun L2 Lagrangian point;[72] subsequently flew by asteroid 4179 Toutatis[73]
Ebb
(GRAIL-A)
10 September 2011[74][75] Delta II 7920H United States NASA Orbiter[76] Success
Part of the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory,[77] impacted the Moon in LQ01 quadrangle on 17 December 2012 at end of mission.[78]
Flow
(GRAIL-B)
10 September 2011[74][75] Delta II 7920H United States NASA Orbiter[76] Success
Part of the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory,[77] impacted the Moon in LQ01 quadrangle on 17 December 2012 at end of mission.[78]
LADEE 7 September 2013 Minotaur V United States NASA Orbiter Success
Mission ended on 18 April 2014, when the spacecraft's controllers intentionally crashed LADEE into the far side of the Moon
Chang'e 3 1 December 2013 Chang Zheng 3B China CNSA Lander/Rover Success
Entered orbit on 6 December 2013 with landing at 13:12 UTC on 14 December. Deployed Yutu rover, which landed on the Moon.
Chang'e 5-T1 23 October 2014 Chang Zheng 3C China CNSA Flyby Operational
Demonstration of re-entry capsule for Chang'e 5 sample-return mission at lunar return velocity.
4M 23 October 2014 Chang Zheng 3C Luxembourg LuxSpace Flyby Success
Attached to third stage of CZ-3C used to launch Chang'e 5-T1

Future proposed missions

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

Funded

Funded lunar probe missions currently under development

Country Name Launch due Nature of mission
(Private) GLXP Moon Express 2017[79] mining
(Private) GLXP Team Indus 2017 landing and roving
(Private) GLXP Hakuto 2017 roving
(Private) GLXP Synergy Moon 2017
(Private) GLXP SpaceIL second half of 2017[80][81] hopping
 China Chang'e 5 November 2017[82][83] sample return
 China Chang'e 4 2018[84] (far side) landing and roving
 India Chandrayaan-2 2018[85][86][87] landing, roving, sample analyzing
 USA EM-1 2018 unmanned test of Orion spacecraft in Lunar orbit
 USA Lunar Flashlight 2018[88] searching for water ice deposits
 USA BioSentinel 2018 flyby[89]
 USA Lunar IceCube 2018 searching for water ice deposits
 USA LunaH-Map 2018 mapping hydrogen deposits
 USA SkyFire 2018 flyby, remote sensing
 Japan OMOTENASHI 2018 hard landing, measuring radiation[90][91]
 USA TESS 2018[92] flyby[93]
(Private) PTScientists 2018 landing and roving
 Japan SLIM[94] 2019[95] pinpoint landing, roving[96][97][98]
 Japan SELENE-2 2020s[99] orbiting, landing and roving[100]
(Private) Astrobotic Technology 2019[101] landing and roving
 China Chang'e 6 2020[102] sample return
 USA Resource Prospector 2020s[103] landing, roving, searching for volatiles and in-situ resource demonstration[104][105]

Funded crewed lunar missions currently under development

Country Name Proposed
launch date
Nature of proposed mission
(Private) SpaceX Moon Mission Late 2018[106] two private citizens on a deep lunar orbit
 USA EM-2 2023[107] manned test of Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit

Proposed but full funding still unclear

Proposed but full funding still unclear, lunar probe missions

The following robotic space probe missions have been proposed:

Country Name Launch due
 Russia Luna-Glob (Luna 27) 2025+
 North Korea Moon mission[108] 2026 or before[109]
 South Korea Moon Orbiter 2020[110]
 South Korea Moon Lander[111] 2025[110]
 UK Lunar Mission One[112] 2024[113]
 USA South Pole Aitken Basin Sample Return May compete in NF4 or NF5 selections [114]

Proposed but full funding still unclear, crewed lunar missions

Country Name Proposed
launch date
Nature of proposed mission
 Russia Luna-Glob 2028[115] Manned lunar orbiter; proposed by Roscosmos[115]
 Russia Luna-Glob 2030[115] Manned lunar landing; proposed by Roscosmos[115]
 Japan JAXA 2030[116] Manned moon landing; proposed by JAXA.[116]
 China CLEP 2036[117] Manned moon landing; proposed by CNSA.[118][119]
 Russia Lunnyj Poligon 2037 Completion of robotic lunar base; proposed by Roscosmos

(Note: Launch dates are aspirational and may change drastically as the planning and preparation progresses.)

Cancelled or indefinitely postponed

Country Name Launch due
 Japan Lunar-A 2004 Integrated into Russia's Luna-Glob 1 mission[120]
 Germany LEO 2012 Mission postponed indefinitely due to budgetary constraints[121]
 UK MoonLITE[122][123] 2014
 USA Constellation program 2020 Mission cancelled by Congress[124]
 Europe Lunar Lander[125][126] 2018 Cancelled in 2012
 USA MoonRise[127] 2018 Not funded by NASA in 2011 funding competition, may be re-competed in NF4 or NF5 selections
(Private) DSE-Alpha 2018[128] Mission to transport the first space tourists to fly around the Moon using Soyuz; proposed by Space Adventures (2005).[129][130][131]

See also

References

  1. Imaging was primary objective.
  1. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  2. Krebs, Gunter. "Interplanetary Probes". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1958". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 17–19.
  4. "Pioneer 0". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 Wade, Mark. "Luna E-1". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  6. "Pioneer 1". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  7. "Pioneer 2". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  8. "Pioneer 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1959". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 21–24.
  10. "Luna 1". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  11. "Pioneer 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  12. "Luna 2". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  13. "Luna 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  14. "Pioneer P-3". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1960". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 25–27.
  16. "Pioneer P-30". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  17. "Pioneer P-31". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  18. 1 2 3 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1962". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 34–37.
  19. "Ranger 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  20. "Ranger 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  21. "Ranger 5". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  22. "Sputnik 25". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  23. 1 2 3 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1963". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 39–40.
  24. "Luna 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  25. 1 2 3 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1964". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 41–45.
  26. "Luna 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  27. "Ranger 7". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1965". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 47–52.
  29. "Ranger 8". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  30. "Cosmos 60". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  31. "Ranger 9". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  32. "Luna 5". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  33. "Luna 6". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  34. "Zond 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  35. "Luna 7". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  36. "Luna 8". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  37. "Luna 9". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1966". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 47–52.
  39. "Cosmos 111". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  40. "Luna 10". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  41. "Surveyor 1". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  42. "Explorer 33". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  43. "Lunar Orbiter 1". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  44. "Luna 11". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  45. "Surveyor 2". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  46. "Luna 12". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  47. "Lunar Orbiter 2". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  48. "Luna 13". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  49. "Lunar Orbiter 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  50. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1967". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 47–52.
  51. "Surveyor 3". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  52. "Surveyor Lunar Spacecraft". Boeing. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  53. "Lunar Orbiter 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  54. "Surveyor 4". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  55. "Explorer 35". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  56. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  57. "Lunar Orbiter 5". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  58. "Surveyor 5". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  59. "Surveyor 6". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  60. "Surveyor 7". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  61. 1 2 3 4 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1968". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 69–72.
  62. "Luna 14". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  63. "Zond 5". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  64. "Zond 6". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  65. "Apollo 8". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  66. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1969". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 73–80.
  67. Siddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1976". Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000 (PDF). Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 115–116.
  68. "Luna 24". US National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  69. "Japanese probe crashes into Moon". BBC. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  70. "月周回衛星「かぐや(SELENE)」 - SELENE通信 - お知らせ" (in Japanese). JAXA. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  71. "Chandrayaan discovers water on moon". NDTV. 24 September 2009.
  72. "China's Moon orbiter Chang'e-2 travels 1.5 km into outer space". The Economic Times. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  73. "Chang'e 2: The Full Story". The Planetary Society. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  74. 1 2 Gold, Scott (11 September 2011). "After delay, GRAIL moon mission launches". Los Angeles Times.
  75. 1 2 Harwood, William. "NASA launches GRAIL lunar probes". CBS News. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  76. 1 2 Tariq Malik (10 April 2008). "New NASA Spacecraft to Probe Moon Dust". Space.com. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  77. 1 2 Tariq Malik (10 April 2008). "New NASA Spacecraft to Probe Moon Dust". Space.com. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  78. 1 2 Blau, Patrick. "GRAIL Mission Design and Timeline". Spaceflight 101. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  79. Hennigan, W.J. (8 April 2011). "MoonEx aims to scour moon for rare materials". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 April 2011. MoonEx's machines are designed to look for materials that are scarce on Earth but found in everything from a Toyota Prius car battery to guidance systems on cruise missiles. ... The company is among several teams hoping to someday win the Google Lunar X Prize competition, a $30-million race to the Moon in which a privately-funded team must successfully place a robot on the Moon's surface and have it explore at least 1/3 of a mile. It also must transmit high definition video and images back to Earth before 2016. ... should be ready to land on the lunar surface by 2013
  80. BBC, accessed 7 October 2015.
  81. "The First Privately Funded Lunar Mission Is Set to Launch in 2017".
  82. China Space Program: Chang’e-5, First Lunar Sample Return Mission, To Be Launched In November 23 January 2017
  83. "China plans to launch Chang'e 5 in 2017". XinHua News. 16 December 2013.
  84. Emily Lakdawalla (14 January 2016). "Updates on China's lunar missions". The Planetary Society. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  85. Prasad, S. (23 January 2016). "Chandrayaan-2 launch likely by 2018". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  86. "Chandrayaan II may be delayed, says ISRO Chief". Space Travel. 12 Sep 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  87. "Rogozin presses Russian lunar base, Chandrayaan-2 delayed by Proton and Phobos-Grunt investigations". Lunar Networks. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  88. Hill, Bill (March 2012). "Exploration Systems Development Status" (PDF). NASA Advisory Council. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  89. "BioSentinel" (PDF). 2 February 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  90. "International Partners Provide Science Satellites for America’s Space Launch System Maiden Flight". NASA. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  91. Hayashi, Kimiyo (8 August 2016). "世界最大のロケットSLSが運ぶ、世界最小の月着陸機 —JAXA「OMOTENASHI」とは" (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  92. "TESS Launch". tess.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  93. "Trajectory Design Enhancements to Mitigate Risk for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)" (PDF). 13 September 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  94. "小型探査機による高精度月面着陸の技術実証(SLIM)について" (PDF) (in Japanese). 3 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  95. "Japan delays launch of unmanned lunar lander to second half of fiscal 2019". The Japan Times. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  96. "Small lunar-lander "SLIM" for the pinpoint landing technology demonstration" (PDF). 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  97. "The tiny rover payload in SLIM mission" (PDF). 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  98. Japan to attempt unmanned lunar landing in 2018
  99. http://spacenews.com/nasa-tests-lunar-rover-prototype-with-eye-toward-flying-real-thing/
  100. http://www.asianscientist.com/2012/07/topnews/japan-announces-selene-2-lunar-mission-2017/
  101. "Graduating from the Google Lunar X Prize". 19 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  102. "China Plans 2017 Lunar Sample-Return Mission". Aviationweek. 16 December 2013.
  103. https://www.nasa.gov/resource-prospector
  104. https://ti.arc.nasa.gov/news/RP-AES-Innovation-Award/
  105. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/07/19/2003651332
  106. Shanklin, Emily (27 February 2017). "SpaceX to Send Privately Crewed Dragon Spacecraft Beyond the Moon Next Year". SpaceX. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
  107. NASA delays Orion capsule's first manned flight until 2023
  108. Lele, Ajey (2013). Asian Space Race: Rhetoric Or Reality. Springer. pp. 70–72. ISBN 978-81-322-0732-0. North Korea has also announced its intentions to undertake manned and Moon missions in the future. Nonetheless, the current status of their space programme indicates that they would have to overcome many hurdles to reach that level of technology sophistication.
  109. Talmadge, Eric (4 August 2016). "AP Exclusive: North Korea hopes to plant flag on the moon". The Big Story. Associated Press. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  110. 1 2 Kim, Jack (20 November 2007). "South Korea eyes moon orbiter in 2020, landing 2025". Reuters. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  111. Pak, Han-pyol (1 July 2013). "핵전지 실은 한국형 로버 … 지구서 우주인터넷 통해 조종". 중앙일보. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  112. "UK 'to lead moon landing' funded by public contributions". BBC News. 19 November 2014.
  113. "Lunar Mission One: A New Lunar Mission for Everyone". British Interplanetary Society. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  114. 1 2 3 4 "Russia Plans to Colonize Moon by 2030, Newspaper Reports". The Moscow Times. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  115. 1 2 Dominic Basulto (30 April 2015). "Why it matters that Japan is going to the moon". Washington Post. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  116. "China considering manned lunar landing in 2025–2030".
  117. "Moon may light man's future". China Daily. 15 August 2009.
  118. "China has no timetable for manned moon landing: chief scientist". Xin Hua News. 19 September 2012.
  119. "Japan's Moon mission in jeopardy". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 January 2007. Retrieved 9 November 2008."Luna-Glob". Gunter's Space Page. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  120. "Just watch. Don't Touch. Moon Mission busted." (in German). n-tv. 12 July 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  121. Craig Brown (11 January 2007). "British scientists shoot for the moon". Edinburgh: The Scotsman. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
  122. Pallab Ghosh (10 January 2007). "Britain plans first Moon mission". BBC. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  123. NASA's 2011 Budget Should Allow Flexibility Despite Cuts, Space.com, 15 April 2011.
  124. Bérengère Houdou; James Carpenter (30 October 2008). "The MoonNEXT Mission" (PDF). LEAG - ILEWG - SRR. ESA/ESTEC, The Netherlands. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  125. "Fly us to the Moon…south pole to be precise". ESA news. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  126. "ILN". NASA. Archived from the original on 27 May 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  127. "Is Space Adventures Sending Customers Around the Moon?".
  128. Belfiore, Michael (2007). Rocketeers: how a visionary band of business leaders, engineers, and pilots is boldly privatizing space. New York: Smithsonian Books. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-06-114903-0. the ... Russian space program cut a deal with Florida-based Space Adventures to send two tourists and a professional cosmonaut on a flyby mission around the Moon. The major hardware for the mission already exists; all that's needed now is to find two people willing and able to pony up $100 million each to pay for it.
  129. Whittington, Mark (29 January 2011). "Space Adventures Closer to Private 'Round the Moon Voyage". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  130. "Lunar Mission Details". Space Adventures. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.