A Moon landing, also known as a lunar landing, refers to the arrival of a spacecraft on the Moon's surface, achieved through both crewed and robotic missions. The Soviet Union's Luna 2 was the first human-made object to reach the Moon in 1959.
11 December 2017: Space Policy Directive 1 Signed by President Trump
On 11 December 2017, US President Donald Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, directing NASA to return to the Moon with a crewed mission for 'long-term exploration and use' and missions to other planets.
1951: Arthur C. Clarke's Moon Prediction
In 1951, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke predicted that a human would reach the Moon by 1978.
October 1957: Sputnik 1 Launch
On 4 October 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, initiating the Space Race.
1958: Failed U.S. Lunar Missions
In 1958, the U.S. launched the Pioneer and Ranger programs, but failed in their primary photographic missions to the Moon.
1959: First Human-Made Object on the Moon
In 1959, Luna 2 became the first human-made object to touch the Moon's surface. This marked a significant milestone in space exploration.
1959: First Hard Moon Landing
In 1959, the Soviet Union achieved the first hard Moon landing with the Luna 2 spacecraft, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
1959: First Soviet Crash Landing on the Moon
In 1959, the Soviet Union succeeded in making the first crash landing on the Moon, using controlled impacts to gather data.
1959: Luna Missions
In 1959, the Soviet Union achieved multiple milestones with Luna 1, Luna 2, and Luna 3, including the first escape from Earth's gravity and the first photography of the Moon's far side.
1961: Kennedy's Request to Counter Soviets
In 1961, President Kennedy asked Lyndon Johnson to research the best achievement to counter the Soviet Union's lead in space. Johnson's response led to the focus on achieving a crewed lunar landing.
November 1962: John F. Kennedy on the planned Moon landing
On 21 November 1962, President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation about the planned Moon landing, outlining the U.S. commitment to landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth.
1962: U.S. Duplicates Hard Moon Landing
In 1962, the United States duplicated the Soviet Union's feat by successfully performing a hard Moon landing with Ranger 4.
1962: Failed U.S. Hard Moon Landings
In 1962, the first three attempts by the U.S. to perform a successful hard Moon landing with a ruggedized seismometer package failed.
1962: Three U.S. missions attempted hard landings with Ranger spacecraft
In 1962, three U.S. missions tried to hard land small seismometer packages released by the main Ranger spacecraft. The surface packages were designed to survive landing using retrorockets, unlike the main vehicle, which was designed to crash deliberately. These missions performed successful high-altitude lunar reconnaissance photography during intentional crash impacts at speeds between 2.62 and 2.68 kilometers per second.
1962: First Moon landing attempts with Rangers 3, 4, and 5
In 1962, the U.S. conducted the Rangers 3, 4, and 5 missions, the first attempts to perform a Moon landing. The Block II missions featured a lunar capsule covered with balsa wood for impact cushioning, a mid-course motor, and a retrorocket. These missions aimed to land a 42-kilogram metal payload sphere using a crushable balsa wood blanket and liquid freon for cushioning.
1962: Comparison of Luna 9 and Surveyor 1 landings
In 1962, the Luna 9 hard landing used airbags at a 50-kilometer-per-hour impact speed, similar to the failed 1962 Ranger landing attempts. In contrast, the Surveyor 1 soft landing used radar-controlled, adjustable-thrust retrorockets. While both Luna 9 and Surveyor 1 were major accomplishments, Surveyor 1 employed key technologies necessary for crewed flights, helping the U.S. pull ahead in the Space Race.
October 1963: Khrushchev's Statement on Moon Landing
In October 1963, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev stated that the USSR was not planning a crewed Moon landing at that time, although they had not abandoned the race.
1963: Johnson's Defense of Apollo Program
In 1963, after becoming President, Lyndon Johnson's defense of the Apollo program was crucial for its success in 1969, aligning with Kennedy's vision.
1963: Kennedy Shields Space Spending
In 1963, President Kennedy ensured continued funding for the Apollo program, shielding space spending from budget cuts and diverting money from other NASA projects.
1964: Block III probes with advanced television system
In 1964, Block III probes replaced the Block II landing capsule and retrorocket with a heavier, more capable television system to support landing site selection for upcoming Apollo missions. The probes were equipped with six cameras designed to take high-resolution photographs in the final twenty minutes before crashing on the lunar surface. Ranger 6 suffered a camera failure, but Ranger 7 successfully completed its mission.
1964: Ranger 4 and 6 Impact Missions
In 1964, Rangers 4 and 6 successfully performed lunar impacts, repeating the Soviet Union's earlier achievements.
1964: Soviet space firsts with Vostok and Voskhod programs
In 1964, the Soviet Union achieved space firsts with their Vostok and Voskhod programs. The Voskhod program, an extension of Vostok, used capsules without ejection seats to achieve multiple-person crews and spacewalks. These capabilities were later demonstrated by the U.S. Gemini missions.
1964: Soviet Moon Landing Effort
In 1964, the Soviet leadership supported Korolev's Moon landing effort, consolidating all crewed projects under his direction and advancing the development of the N1 launcher.
1965: Public Opinion Shift for Apollo
By 1965, public opinion shifted in favor of the Apollo program, with 58 percent of Americans supporting it. This shift was due to the efforts of Kennedy and Johnson, emphasizing the scientific benefits and fears of Soviet dominance.
1965: US Army's Plan for Military Lunar Outpost
By 1965, the US Army, influenced by Wernher von Braun, had promoted a plan to establish a military lunar outpost.
1965: Ranger 7 mission success
In 1965, the Ranger 7 mission successfully broke a six-year string of U.S. failures to photograph the Moon at close range. This success was seen as a national turning point and helped secure the 1965 NASA budget without reductions, boosting U.S. hopes for the Apollo program.
1965: U.S. Gemini missions prove techniques for crewed lunar landing
In 1965, the U.S. Gemini missions demonstrated crucial techniques for a crewed lunar landing mission profile, such as orbital rendezvous and docking. These missions used a second-generation spacecraft design, distinct from the earlier Mercury program.
February 1966: First successful soft Moon landing by Luna 9
On 3 February 1966, the Soviet Union's Luna 9 spacecraft performed the first successful soft landing on the Moon. The spacecraft's airbags protected its 99-kilogram capsule, which survived an impact speed of over 15 meters per second. Luna 9 returned the first panoramic photographs from the lunar surface.
April 1966: Luna 10 orbits the Moon
On 3 April 1966, the Soviet Union's Luna 10 became the first spacecraft to orbit the Moon, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.
December 1966: Luna 13's Moon landing
On 24 December 1966, the Soviet Union's Luna 13 successfully duplicated Luna 9's feat by performing a soft Moon landing and returning panoramic photographs from the lunar surface.
1966: First Soft Landings on the Moon
In 1966, the Soviet Union achieved the first soft landings on the Moon with Luna 9 and Luna 13, capturing the first pictures from the lunar surface.
1966: U.S. and U.S.S.R. begin lunar orbit missions
Beginning in mid-1966, both the U.S. and U.S.S.R. advanced to missions featuring lunar orbit as a prerequisite to a crewed Moon landing. These initial uncrewed orbiters aimed to extensively photograph the lunar surface for crewed landing site selection and, for the Soviets, to check out radio communications gear for future soft landings.
1966: First Uncrewed Soft Lunar Landing
In 1966, the Soviet Union achieved the first uncrewed soft lunar landing, followed by the U.S. with their own soft landing missions.
1966: Surveyor 1's soft landing and U.S. progress
By mid-1966, the U.S. had started to pull ahead of the Soviet Union in the Space Race to land a man on the Moon. The Surveyor 1 soft landing, which used key technologies needed for crewed flights, demonstrated the U.S.'s technical capabilities and progress toward achieving a crewed Moon landing.
1966: U.S. and Soviet Union achieve successful Moon landings
In early 1966, within four months of each other, the U.S. and Soviet Union both accomplished successful Moon landings with uncrewed spacecraft. Both nations returned photographic images from the lunar surface, demonstrating roughly equal technical capabilities. These images confirmed that lunar soil could support the weight of upcoming crewed landers.
1966: Gemini missions' continued success
In 1966, the U.S. Gemini missions continued to prove essential techniques for a crewed lunar landing. The missions' success in low Earth orbit demonstrated the U.S.'s growing capabilities in space exploration.
1966: Soviet Proton Booster and Zond Development
In 1966, the Soviet Union developed the Proton booster and Zond spacecraft for a human cislunar flight, under the direction of Sergey Korolev.
1967: Korolev's Death and Soyuz Failure
In 1967, the Soviet Moon landing program faced setbacks with the death of Sergey Korolev and the failure of the first Soyuz flight, leading to coordination issues.
1967: Soviet Zond crewed spacecraft program
In 1967, the Soviet Union began flying their second-generation Zond crewed spacecraft with the goal of sending a cosmonaut around the Moon and back to Earth. The Zond spacecraft was launched using the operational Proton rocket. However, development problems delayed the program, and the success of the U.S. Apollo program eventually led to the termination of the Zond effort.
December 1968: Apollo 8 First Human Trip to the Moon
On 24 December 1968, Apollo 8 carried out the first human trip to the Moon, completing ten orbits around the Moon before safely returning to Earth. This mission certified the Saturn V booster for crewed use.
December 1968: Soviet Crewed Lunar Mission Scrubbed
In early December 1968, the Soviet Union considered launching a crewed lunar mission using the Zond spacecraft. However, due to the risk of crew death, the launch was scrubbed. The uncrewed Zond mission that followed was destroyed during testing.
May 1969: Apollo 10 Dress Rehearsal for Moon Landing
In May 1969, Apollo 10 conducted a full dress rehearsal for a crewed Moon landing, orbiting within 14.4 kilometers of the lunar surface and mapping trajectory-altering mascons.
July 1969: Failure of Luna 15
In July 1969, the Soviet robotic mission Luna 15 failed in its attempt to return samples from the Moon, paving the way for the success of Apollo 11.
July 1969: Apollo 11 Landing
On 20 July 1969, Apollo 11 successfully landed on the Moon, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first humans to walk on its surface.
1969: First Crewed Moon Landing
In 1969, Apollo 11 was the first crewed mission to land on the Moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the lunar surface.
1969: Apollo Program Success
In 1969, the Apollo program achieved its goal with the successful Moon landing, fulfilling the vision set by Kennedy and defended by Johnson.
1969: Cancellation of Soviet Crewed Moon Landing
In 1969, the Soviet plans for a crewed Moon landing were ultimately cancelled due to successive launch failures of the N1 booster.
1970: Apollo 13 Mission Explosion
In 1970, the Apollo 13 mission experienced an explosion aboard the spacecraft, leading to the implementation of a free return trajectory to ensure the crew's safe return to Earth. This mission remains the only crewed circumlunar loop mission flown to date.
1970: Lunokhod 1 lunar rover mission
In 1970, the Soviet Union's Lunokhod 1 became the first robotic lunar rover to operate on the Moon. It successfully operated for 10 months, covering a distance of 10.5 kilometers.
1970: Luna 16's Success
In 1970, the Soviet Luna 16 mission successfully returned lunar rocks to Earth. However, this achievement had little impact as Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 had already accomplished similar missions.
December 1972: Last Crewed Moon Landing of Apollo Program
In December 1972, the Apollo program concluded with its last crewed mission to the Moon. This marked the end of an era of intense lunar exploration.
December 1972: Apollo 17 Mission
On 14 December 1972, the Apollo 17 mission concluded with Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt, marking the end of human exploration on the Moon for the Apollo program.
1972: Luna 20 lunar sample return mission
In 1972, the Soviet Union's Luna 20 mission successfully repeated the achievement of Luna 16 by landing on the Moon and safely returning a sample of lunar soil back to Earth. This was the first lunar sample return mission by the Soviet Union since Luna 16, and the third overall following Apollo 11 and Apollo 12.
1973: Lunokhod 2 lunar rover mission
In 1973, the Soviet Union's Lunokhod 2 rover followed its predecessor by successfully operating on the Moon for 4 months, covering a distance of 37 kilometers.
August 1976: Luna 24 Lunar Landing
On 22 August 1976, Luna 24 successfully landed on the Moon, marking the last lunar soft landing until Chang'e 3 in 2013.
1976: Luna 24 lunar sample return mission
In 1976, the Soviet Union's Luna 24 mission successfully repeated the achievements of Luna 16 and Luna 20 by landing on the Moon and safely returning a sample of lunar soil back to Earth. This mission marked the last of the Soviet lunar sample return missions.
1976: Last Soviet Lunar Mission
In 1976, the Soviet Union conducted its last successful lunar mission before the Luna 25 attempt in 2023.
1976: Luna 24 Mission
In 1976, the Soviet Luna 24 mission marked the last soft landing on the Moon for several decades.
1978: Moon Prediction Review
Arthur C. Clarke's 1951 prediction that a man would reach the Moon by 1978 was reviewed, acknowledging that the actual Moon landing occurred earlier, in 1969.
1989: Phobos 2 Near Landing on Phobos
In 1989, the Soviet probe Phobos 2 came within 190 km of landing on Mars' moon Phobos before radio contact was lost, preventing the completion of the landing.
January 1990: Launch of Japanese Lunar Orbiter Hiten
On 24 January 1990, Japan launched the lunar orbiter Hiten, marking a significant contribution to lunar exploration.
1991: Release of Soviet Lunar Records
After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, historical records were released, revealing the true extent of Soviet lunar efforts and mission failures.
April 1993: Hiten Crashes into the Moon
On 10 April 1993, the Japanese lunar orbiter Hiten was deliberately commanded to crash into the lunar surface, concluding its mission.
January 1998: Launch of Lunar Prospector
On 7 January 1998, the Lunar Prospector was launched to explore the Moon, particularly to search for water ice.
July 1999: Lunar Prospector Mission Ends
On 31 July 1999, the Lunar Prospector mission ended with a deliberate crash into a crater near the lunar south pole after confirming the presence of water ice.
1999: NASA Lunar Prospector impacts Shoemaker Crater
In 1999, NASA's Lunar Prospector orbiter deliberately targeted Shoemaker Crater near the lunar south pole for impact. The goal was to vaporize suspected ice deposits and detect a water vapor plume from Earth. Although no plume was observed, the mission delivered a small vial of ashes from lunar scientist Eugene Shoemaker to the crater, making it the only human remains on the Moon.
September 2003: Launch of ESA's SMART-1
On 27 September 2003, the European Space Agency launched the lunar orbiter SMART-1 from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.
2005: Huygens Probe Landing on Titan
In 2005, the Huygens probe achieved a soft landing on Titan, using atmospheric entry techniques rather than rockets.
2005: Huygens Probe Landing on Titan
In 2005, the Huygens probe of the Cassini–Huygens mission to Saturn successfully landed on Titan, broadening the scope of lunar landings to other moons in the Solar System.
August 2006: NASA's Missing Apollo 11 Tapes
In August 2006, the Associated Press reported that NASA was missing the original Slow-scan television tapes of the Apollo 11 Moon walk.
September 2006: SMART-1 Crashes into the Moon
On 3 September 2006, the ESA lunar orbiter SMART-1 performed a controlled crash into the Moon, concluding its mission.
September 2007: Launch of SELENE/Kaguya
SELENE, Japan's lunar orbiter, was launched on 14 September 2007, marking the start of its lunar exploration mission.
October 2007: Launch of Chang'e 1
Chang'e 1, China's lunar orbiter, was launched on 24 October 2007 at 10:05 UTC, beginning its mission to explore the Moon.
October 2008: Launch of Chandrayaan-1
On 22 October 2008, the Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 was launched at 00:52 UTC, marking a significant milestone in India's space exploration efforts.
November 2008: ISRO's Moon Impact Probe Mission
On 14 November 2008, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully performed a controlled hard landing of its Moon Impact Probe (MIP). The MIP, ejected from Chandrayaan-1, conducted remote sensing experiments before impacting near Shackleton crater at the lunar south pole at 20:31 IST.
2008: Apollo 11 Tapes Found
In 2008, the missing Apollo 11 Slow-scan television tapes were found, which had been mistakenly reported as found in Western Australia.
March 2009: Chang'e 1 Controlled Crash
On 1 March 2009, the Chinese lunar orbiter Chang'e 1 executed a controlled crash onto the Moon's surface at 20:44 GMT, concluding a 16-month mission.
June 2009: SELENE/Kaguya Lunar Impact
On 10 June 2009, the Japanese lunar orbiter SELENE, also known as Kaguya, impacted the lunar surface near the crater Gill at 18:25 UTC after orbiting the Moon for over a year and eight months.
June 2009: Launch of LCROSS and LRO
The LCROSS data collecting shepherding spacecraft was launched together with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) on 18 June 2009 aboard an Atlas V rocket.
October 2009: LCROSS Impact Mission
On 9 October 2009, at 11:31 UTC, the Centaur upper stage of the LCROSS mission impacted the lunar surface, followed by the LCROSS shepherding spacecraft six minutes later. The impacts released significant kinetic energy, providing valuable data for lunar studies.
September 2011: Launch of GRAIL Mission
The GRAIL mission, consisting of two small spacecraft, GRAIL A and GRAIL B, was launched on 10 September 2011 aboard a Delta II rocket.
December 2011: GRAIL A Enters Lunar Orbit
On 31 December 2011, GRAIL A, the first probe of the GRAIL mission, successfully entered lunar orbit.
2011: Conception of SpaceIL
SpaceIL was originally conceived in 2011 as a venture to compete for the Google Lunar X Prize with the goal of landing a spacecraft on the Moon.
January 2012: GRAIL B Enters Lunar Orbit
On 1 January 2012, GRAIL B, the second probe of the GRAIL mission, entered lunar orbit, following GRAIL A.
December 2012: GRAIL Mission Conclusion
The GRAIL mission concluded on 17 December 2012, when the two spacecraft, GRAIL A and GRAIL B, impacted the lunar surface.
September 2013: Launch of LADEE Mission
The LADEE spacecraft was launched on 7 September 2013, initiating a mission to study the Moon's exosphere and dust environment.
December 2013: Chang'e 3 Lunar Landing
On 14 December 2013 at 13:12 UTC, China's Chang'e 3 mission achieved a soft landing on the Moon, deploying the Yutu rover. This was the first lunar soft landing since 1976.
2013: Chang'e 3 Soft Landing
In 2013, China achieved a soft landing on the Moon with its Chang'e 3 mission, ending a long hiatus in lunar exploration.
2013: Chang'e 3 Soft Landing
In 2013, China's Chang'e 3 mission successfully achieved a soft landing on the Moon, marking China's return to lunar exploration.
April 2014: End of LADEE Mission
The LADEE mission concluded on 18 April 2014, when the spacecraft was intentionally crashed into the Moon near the eastern rim of Sundman V crater.
October 2014: Launch of Manfred Memorial Moon Mission
The Manfred Memorial Moon Mission was launched on 23 October 2014, conducting a lunar flyby and operating for 19 days, which was four times longer than expected.
July 2016: Yutu Rover Operation End
The Yutu rover, part of the Chang'e 3 mission, remained operational until July 2016 despite being immobilized due to a system malfunction.
January 2019: First Far Side Moon Landing
In January 2019, China's Chang'e 4 mission became the first to land on the far side of the Moon, expanding our understanding of the lunar surface.
January 2019: Chang'e 4 Far Side Landing
On 3 January 2019 at 2:26 UTC, China's Chang'e 4 became the first spacecraft to land on the far side of the Moon, deploying the Yutu-2 rover for close exploration.
February 2019: Launch of Beresheet
On 22 February 2019, the Israeli private space agency SpaceIL launched its spacecraft Beresheet on a Falcon 9 rocket, aiming for a lunar landing.
April 2019: Beresheet Lunar Crash
On 11 April 2019, SpaceIL's Beresheet spacecraft crashed into the Moon due to a main engine failure after losing contact during its final descent.
July 2019: Launch of Chandrayaan-2
On 22 July 2019, ISRO launched Chandrayaan-2, which included an orbiter, lander, and rover, marking another step in India's lunar exploration.
September 2019: Chandrayaan-2 Lander Crash
On 7 September 2019, contact was lost with the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-2 during its descent, and it was later confirmed to have crashed.
2019: SpaceIL Beresheet Mission
In 2019, the Israeli private space agency SpaceIL attempted but failed to achieve a soft landing on the Moon with their Beresheet spacecraft.
2019: Apollo 11 Tapes Sold at Auction
In 2019, the Apollo 11 Slow-scan television tapes were sold at auction to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing.
March 2022: End of Manfred Memorial Moon Mission
On 4 March 2022, the Manfred Memorial Moon Mission, along with its launch vehicle's upper stage, impacted the Moon, concluding its mission.
July 2022: Yutu-2 Rover Milestone
As of July 2022, China's Yutu-2 rover has survived over 1000 days on the lunar surface, traveling more than 1200 meters during its mission.
July 2023: Launch of Chandrayaan-3
India's ISRO launched Chandrayaan-3 on 14 July 2023, which included a lander, propulsion module, and the Pragyan rover for lunar exploration.
August 2023: Chandrayaan-3 Successful Landing
On 23 August 2023, Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed near the lunar south pole, marking a significant achievement for India's space program.
August 2023: Chandrayaan-3 Landing
On 23 August 2023, ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed in the lunar south pole region, making India the fourth nation to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
August 2023: Luna 25 Mission Failure
On 19 August 2023, Russia's Luna 25 spacecraft, the first lunar mission since 1976, failed during pre-landing maneuvers and crashed into the Moon.
September 2023: Launch of SLIM Mission
JAXA launched the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission on 6 September 2023, aiming for precise lunar landing capabilities.
2023: ispace's Hakuto-R Mission 1
In 2023, Japanese company ispace's Hakuto-R Mission 1 attempted but failed to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
January 2024: JAXA's SLIM Lander
On 19 January 2024, JAXA successfully landed its SLIM lander, making Japan the fifth nation to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
January 2024: SLIM Mission Lunar Landing
On 19 January 2024, Japan's SLIM mission successfully landed on the Moon, deploying two rovers and marking Japan as the fifth country to achieve a soft lunar landing.
February 2024: Intuitive Machine's Odysseus Landing
On 22 February 2024, Intuitive Machine's Odysseus successfully landed on the Moon, marking the first successful landing of a privately owned spacecraft on the lunar surface.
2024: Initial Artemis Program Lunar Mission Timeline
The Artemis program initially planned to land a crewed mission on the Moon in 2024 and begin sustained operations by 2028, supported by the Lunar Gateway.
2025: Lunar Polar Exploration Mission by ISRO and JAXA
In 2025, ISRO and JAXA plan to launch the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission, which will send a lunar rover and lander to explore the Moon's south pole region. JAXA will provide the launch service using the H3 rocket and the rover, while ISRO will be responsible for the lander.
September 2026: Postponement of NASA Lunar Landing Mission
The NASA lunar landing mission, initially intended for 2024, has been postponed to launch no earlier than September 2026.
2027: Launch of Luna 26 Lunar Polar Orbiter by Roscosmos
In 2027, Russia's Roscosmos plans to launch Luna 26, a lunar polar orbiter, as part of its lunar exploration efforts.
2028: Preparation for International Lunar Research Station
By 2028, China's Lunar Exploration Program will continue its uncrewed missions as part of preparations for the International Lunar Research Station planned with several international partners.
2028: Chandrayaan 4 Lunar Sample Return Mission
In 2028, ISRO plans to launch Chandrayaan 4, a lunar sample return mission that aims to be the first to return soil from the Moon's water-rich south polar basin. The mission will attempt a landing close to Shiv Shakthi point.
2028: Sustained Operations of Artemis Program
The Artemis program aims to begin sustained operations on the Moon by 2028, supported by the Lunar Gateway.
2029: China's Crewed Lunar Landing Plans
In 2029, the China Manned Space Agency intends to conduct crewed lunar landings, preparing with the development of a new human-rated super-heavy launch vehicle, crewed lunar spacecraft, and lander.
2030: Development of Chinese Lunar Infrastructure
By 2030, China aims to have developed the necessary infrastructure for crewed lunar landings, including a super-heavy launch vehicle, crewed lunar spacecraft, and a lunar lander.
22 February 2024: Intuitive Machine's Odysseus Moon Landing
On 22 February 2024, Intuitive Machine's Odysseus successfully landed on the Moon after taking off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 liftoff on 15 February 2024. This mission marked the United States' first soft unmanned Moon landing in over 50 years. It also marked the first privately owned spacecraft to land on the Moon and the first landing with cryogenic propellants. Despite a broken leg and a tilt due to landing on a slope, the lander survived and payloads functioned as expected.
26 March 2019: Announcement of First Female Lunar Astronaut
On 26 March 2019, Vice President Mike Pence announced that the Artemis mission will include the first female lunar astronaut, aiming for a crewed mission landing on the Moon in 2024.
28 February 2024: EagleCam Deployment from Odysseus
On 28 February 2024, EagleCam was ejected from the Odysseus lander. However, the mission was partially a failure as it returned all types of data except post-IM-1 landing images, which were the main aim of its mission.