History of Moon in Timeline

The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite, orbiting at an average distance of 384,399 kilometers. Its orbit, synodically, takes 29.5 days. The Moon and Earth are gravitationally bound, causing tidal forces that primarily drive Earth's tides. This gravitational interaction has resulted in tidal locking, synchronizing the Moon's rotation and orbital periods, so the same side of the Moon always faces Earth.

January 1, 1900: New moon date for calculating the Moon's age and phase

January 1, 1900, is a known new moon date that can be used to calculate the Moon's age and phase, based on the number of days since that date.

1920: Comparative studies leading to the development of lunar stratigraphy

From 1920 to the 1940s, comparative studies gained support for the collision theory of lunar crater formation, leading to the development of lunar stratigraphy.

January 1959: Luna 1 escaped Earth's gravity and passed the Moon

In January 1959, the first human-made object Luna 1 escaped Earth's gravity and passed the Moon.

1959: First extraterrestrial probes reach the Moon

In 1959, the Luna program saw the first extraterrestrial probes reach the Moon.

1961: President John F. Kennedy's commitment to a crewed Moon landing

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy committed the United States to a crewed Moon landing before the end of the decade.

1966: Luna 9 and Luna 10 first spacecraft to perform a successful lunar soft landing and orbit the Moon

In 1966, Luna 9 was the first spacecraft to perform a successful lunar soft landing, and Luna 10 was the first vehicle to orbit the Moon.

1966: First images of Earth from the Moon

In 1966, the first images of Earth from the Moon were taken by Lunar Orbiter 1.

1967: Outer Space Treaty

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty defines the Moon and all outer space as the "province of all mankind", restricting its use to peaceful purposes and banning military installations and weapons of mass destruction.

December 24, 1968: Apollo 8 first human mission to lunar orbit

On December 24, 1968, Apollo 8, sent by the United States, marked the first instance of humans arriving in lunar orbit.

1968: Apollo 8 made the first human mission to lunar orbit

In 1968, Apollo 8 made the first human mission to lunar orbit.

1968: Earthrise photograph

Of particular cultural significance is the 1968 photograph called Earthrise, taken by Bill Anders of Apollo 8.

July 20, 1969: Apollo 11 first human landing on the Moon

On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission achieved the first human landing on the Moon, with the United States being the first country to accomplish this milestone.

Loading Video...

July 21, 1969: Neil Armstrong first person to land on the Moon

On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong, the commander of the American mission Apollo 11, became the first person to land on the Moon, at 02:56 UTC.

Loading Video...

1969: Apollo astronauts placed seismometers on the Moon

In 1969, Apollo astronauts placed seismometers on the Moon, leading to the discovery of moonquakes.

1969: First stay of people on the Moon

In 1969, the first stay of people on the Moon was conducted in a series of crewed exploration missions (the Apollo Program)

1970: Deployment of Lunokhod 1 and Luna 16

In 1970, the Soviet Union deployed the first remote-controlled rover, Lunokhod 1, on an extraterrestrial surface with Luna 17. Also in 1970, Luna 16 collected and returned 0.3 kg of rock and soil samples.

1970: "Whitey on the Moon" Poem

In 1970, the poem "Whitey on the Moon" was released, and it initiated renewed public and critical reflection on humanity's cultural and legal relation to the Moon, especially regarding colonialism. Contemporarily the Moon has been seen as a place for economic expansion into space, with missions prospecting for lunar resources.

1971: Salyut program launch

In 1971, focus shifted towards Earth orbit, developing and continuously operating communication satellites, Earth observation satellites, space telescopes and space stations such as the Salyut program.

April 1972: Far Ultraviolet Camera/Spectrograph

In April 1972 the Apollo 16 mission set up the first dedicated telescope, the Far Ultraviolet Camera/Spectrograph, recording various astronomical photos and spectra.

1972: Apollo 17 mission

In 1972, Apollo 17 became the last crewed mission to the Moon.

1972: Apollo astronauts placed seismometers on the Moon

In 1972, Apollo astronauts continued to place seismometers on the Moon, contributing to the study of moonquakes.

1972: Pioneer 10 and Landsat program

In 1972, focus shifted towards inner and outer Solar System planets (e.g. Pioneer 10) and Earth observation satellites (e.g. Landsat program).

1972: Luna 20 Sample Return Mission

In 1972, the Soviet Union's Luna 20 mission successfully collected and returned rock and soil samples from the Moon.

1973: Explorer 49 mission

In 1973, Explorer 49 became the last dedicated U.S. probe to the Moon until 1994.

1973: First mission since 1973

In 1994, the U.S. dedicated a mission to fly a spacecraft to the Moon again for the first time since 1973.

1973: First lunar rover mission since Lunokhod 2

In 2013 with Chang'e 3, a lunar lander along with a lunar rover named Yutu, was the first lunar rover mission since Lunokhod 2 in 1973.

1976: End of Soviet lunar missions

Following the last Soviet mission to the Moon in 1976, lunar exploration decreased for fourteen years.

1976: Luna 24 sample return mission

In 1976, the Soviet Union continued sending robotic missions to the Moon. Luna 24 collected and returned 0.3 kg of rock and soil samples.

1976: First lunar mission after 1976

In 1990 Hiten – Hagoromo reached the Moon. It was the first lunar mission after 1976.

1976: First lunar soft landing since Luna 24

In 2013 with Chang'e 3, a lunar lander along with a lunar rover named Yutu, it was the first lunar soft landing since Luna 24 in 1976, making China the third country to achieve this.

1977: End of direct data transmission from Apollo landing sites

In late 1977, direct transmission of data to Earth from the scientific instrument stations installed on the lunar surface during the Apollo landings concluded due to budgetary considerations.

1979: Negotiation of Moon Treaty

In 1979, negotiation of the Moon Treaty occurred, marking the only major lunar activity until 1990.

1979: Moon Agreement

The 1979 Moon Agreement elaborated and restricted the exploitation of the Moon's resources by any single nation.

1984: Ratification of Moon Treaty

In 1984, the Moon Treaty was ratified.

1986: Australia signing and ratifying both the Moon Treaty

Australia signed and ratified the Moon Treaty in 1986.

1990: Hiten-Hagoromo lunar mission

In 1990, Japan's Hiten – Hagoromo mission reached the Moon, marking the first lunar mission not undertaken by the Soviet Union or the U.S. since 1976.

1990: Resumption of lunar activity

Until 1990, the negotiation in 1979 and subsequent ratification in 1984 of the Moon treaty was the only major lunar activity.

1994: Clementine mission

In 1994, the U.S. launched the Clementine mission to the Moon, obtaining the first near-global topographic map and global multispectral images of the lunar surface.

1994: Resumption of dedicated U.S. lunar probes

In 1994, the U.S. resumed dedicated lunar missions with a spacecraft (Clementine) for the first time since 1973.

1994: Clementine spacecraft indicated the existence of small, frozen pockets of water close to the surface

In 1994, the bistatic radar experiment located on the Clementine spacecraft indicated the existence of small, frozen pockets of water close to the surface.

1998: Lunar Prospector Mission

In 1998, the Lunar Prospector mission indicated the presence of excess hydrogen at the lunar poles, likely caused by water ice in permanently shadowed craters.

1998: Lunar Prospector spacecraft showed that high concentrations of hydrogen are present in the regolith near the polar regions

In 1998, the neutron spectrometer on the Lunar Prospector spacecraft showed that high concentrations of hydrogen are present in the first meter of depth in the regolith near the polar regions.

1998: Criticism for sending cremated ashes of Eugene Shoemaker to the Moon

In 1998, then–Navajo Nation president Albert Hale criticized NASA for sending the cremated ashes of scientist Eugene Shoemaker to the Moon.

August 11, 1999: New moon date for calculating the Moon's age and phase

August 11, 1999, is a known new moon date that can be used to calculate the Moon's age and phase, based on the number of days since that date.

2004: SMART-1 mission launch

Between 2004 and 2006, the European Space Agency's SMART-1 reached the Moon, recording the first detailed survey of chemical elements on the lunar surface.

2004: U.S. plans for returning to the Moon

In 2004, the U.S. developed plans for returning to the Moon.

2006: SMART-1 mission conclusion

Between 2004 and 2006, the European Space Agency's SMART-1 reached the Moon, recording the first detailed survey of chemical elements on the lunar surface.

2006: Study of Ina depression found relatively dust-free features

In 2006, a study of Ina, a tiny depression in Lacus Felicitatis, found jagged, relatively dust-free features that appeared to be only 2 million years old.

2006: Operation of orbiters

Since 2006 orbiters in orbits around the Moon or the Earth–Moon Lagrange points, have been operated.

2007: Models suggest a larger fraction of the Moon derived from the proto-Earth

In 2007, models suggested a larger fraction of the Moon derived from the proto-Earth.

2007: Chang'e 1 lunar orbiter

The Chinese Lunar Exploration Program reached the Moon for the first time with the orbiter Chang'e 1 (2007–2009), obtaining a full image map of the Moon.

2008: Chandrayaan-1 and Moon Impact Probe

In 2008, India reached, orbited, and impacted the Moon for the first time with its Chandrayaan-1 and Moon Impact Probe, creating a high-resolution chemical, mineralogical and photo-geological map of the lunar surface, and confirming the presence of water molecules in lunar soil.

2008: Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft has since confirmed the existence of surface water ice

In 2008, the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft confirmed the existence of surface water ice, using the on-board Moon Mineralogy Mapper.

June 18, 2009: Launch of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and LCROSS

On June 18, 2009, the U.S. launched the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and the LCROSS impactor to the Moon.

October 9, 2009: LCROSS impact in Cabeus crater

On October 9, 2009, LCROSS completed its mission by making a planned and widely observed impact in the crater Cabeus, while LRO continued in operation.

2009: LCROSS detected at least 100 kg of water in a plume of ejected material

In 2009, LCROSS sent an impactor into a permanently shadowed polar crater, and detected at least 100 kg of water in a plume of ejected material.

2009: Launch of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

The 2009-launched Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter surveilling the Moon for future missions.

2009: Chang'e 1 lunar orbiter conclusion

The Chinese Lunar Exploration Program reached the Moon for the first time with the orbiter Chang'e 1 (2007–2009), obtaining a full image map of the Moon.

2010: Chang'e 2 mission

In 2010, China continued its lunar program with Chang'e 2, mapping the surface at a higher resolution.

2010: Analysis of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter photos confirm a cave on the Moon

In 2010, analysis based on photos taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter confirmed the presence of a cave on the Moon, identified as an entry point to a collapsed lava tube.

May 2011: 615-1410 ppm water in melt inclusions in lunar sample 74220 was reported

In May 2011, 615–1410 ppm water in melt inclusions in lunar sample 74220 was reported, the famous high-titanium "orange glass soil" of volcanic origin collected during the Apollo 17 mission.

2013: Chang'e 3 lunar lander and Yutu rover

In 2013, China launched Chang'e 3, a lunar lander along with the Yutu rover, marking the first lunar soft landing since Luna 24 in 1976 and making China the third country to achieve this.

2013: Launch of Chang'e 3

The 2013-launched Chang'e 3 with its Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope still operational.

2014: Manfred Memorial Moon Mission

In 2014, the first privately funded probe, the Manfred Memorial Moon Mission, flew by the Moon.

2016: Planetary scientists found two hydrogen-rich areas on opposite sides of the Moon

In 2016, planetary scientists using data collected on the NASA Lunar Prospector mission found two hydrogen-rich areas on opposite sides of the Moon.

August 2018: Definitive evidence for water-ice on the lunar surface

In August 2018, analysis of the findings of the Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) revealed "definitive evidence" for water-ice on the lunar surface.

2018: Indirect lighting of areas in shadow confirmed water ice within 20Â° latitude of both poles

In 2018, using the Moon Mineralogy Mapper's reflectance spectra, indirect lighting of areas in shadow confirmed water ice within 20° latitude of both poles.

2019: Chandrayaan-2 probe sent to the Moon

In 2019, India successfully sent its second probe, Chandrayaan-2, to the Moon.

2019: Plant seed sprouts on Chang'e 4 lander

In 2019, at least one plant seed sprouted in an experiment on the Chang'e 4 lander in its Lunar Micro Ecosystem.

2019: Chang'e 4 landing on the far side of the Moon

In early 2019, China's Chang'e 4 mission achieved the first landing on the Moon's far side.

2019: "Tardigrade affair" of the Beresheet lander

The 2019 "Tardigrade affair" of the crashed Beresheet lander and its carrying of tardigrades has been discussed as an example for lacking measures and lacking international regulation for planetary protection.

January 2020: Moon Agreement

As of January 2020, it has been signed and ratified by 18 nations, none of which have human spaceflight capabilities.

October 2020: Molecular water detected on the sunlit surface of the Moon

In October 2020, astronomers reported detecting molecular water on the sunlit surface of the Moon by several independent spacecraft, including the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).

2020: Australia signing and ratifying both the Artemis Accords

Australia signed and ratified the Artemis Accords in 2020.

2020: Chang'e 5 robotic sample return mission

In 2020, China carried out its first robotic sample return mission, Chang'e 5, bringing back 1,731 grams of lunar material to Earth.

2020: Artemis Accords signed

In 2020, the U.S.-led Artemis Accords were signed, aiming to return humans to the Moon in the 2020s.

2020: U.S. lawmakers introduce regulation for conservation of historic landing sites

In late 2020, U.S. lawmakers introduced specific regulation for the conservation of historic landing sites.

2020: Challenges to Moon Treaty

Since 2020, countries have joined the U.S. in their Artemis Accords, which are challenging the treaty. The U.S. has furthermore emphasized that "the United States does not view outer space as a 'global commons'" and calls the Moon Agreement "a failed attempt at constraining free enterprise".

2021: International Moon Day

In 2021, the 20th of July, the date of the first crewed Moon landing, became the annual International Moon Day.

2021: Declaration of the Rights of the Moon

In 2021, the Declaration of the Rights of the Moon was created by a group of lawyers, space archaeologists and concerned citizens, drawing on precedents in the Rights of Nature movement and the concept of legal personality for non-human entities in space.

2022: Giant impacts can immediately place a satellite with similar mass and iron content to the Moon into orbit

A study published in 2022, using high-resolution simulations, found that giant impacts can immediately place a satellite with similar mass and iron content to the Moon into orbit far outside Earth's Roche limit.

2022: South Korea launches Danuri

In 2022, South Korea launched Danuri, its first mission to the Moon, from the US.

November 1, 2023: Remnants of Theia could still be present inside the Earth

On November 1, 2023, scientists reported that remnants of Theia could still be present inside the Earth, according to computer simulations.

2023: India soft lands a spacecraft on the Moon

In 2023, India became the fourth country to soft land a spacecraft on the Moon.

May 3, 2024: Launch of Chang'e 6

On May 3, 2024, China launched the Chang'e 6, which conducted another lunar sample return from the far side of the Moon. It also carried a Chinese rover to conduct infrared spectroscopy of lunar surface. Pakistan sent a lunar orbiter called ICUBE-Q along with Chang'e 6.

2024: Japan soft lands a spacecraft on the Moon

In 2024, Japan became the fifth country to soft land a spacecraft on the Moon. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon survived 3 lunar nights.

2024: 4G connectivity demonstration on Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander

In 2024, NASA is partnering with industry leaders to establish key elements such as modern communication infrastructure. A 4G connectivity demonstration is to be launched aboard an Intuitive Machines Nova-C lander.

2024: Launches to the Moon

In 2024, Nova-C 2, iSpace Lander and Blue Ghost were all launched to the Moon.

April 2026: Artemis II crewed lunar flyby

NASA plans to launch its Artemis II crewed lunar flyby in April 2026, becoming the first crewed lunar mission since the Apollo era. Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen will become the first woman, person of color, and non-US citizen to reach deep space and the Moon's vicinity.