Race to the Moon
173 rows: every spacecraft that left Earth for the Moon, every launch attempt that did not, and the missions on today’s manifests. Launch dates are UTC; where a local date differs it is shown beside it. Claims no source could confirm carry an “Unconfirmed” label.
Data reviewed against sources as of · All dates UTC unless a local time is shown
Showing 173 of 173. Download the full catalogue (CSV) — free to reuse with attribution to SpaceNexus.
| Launch (UTC) | Mission | Result | Key events, firsts, sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch: | Pioneer 0 (Able I)US — United StatesUS Air Force · Orbiter | Launch failure | Launched by the US Air Force. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-1 No.1USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Impactor | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Pioneer 1US — United StatesUnited States · Orbiter | Launch failure | Reached about 114,750 km (Siddiqi; an older NASA figure is 113,800 km) and fell back to Earth. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-1 No.2USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Impactor | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Pioneer 2US — United StatesUnited States · Orbiter | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-1 No.3USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Impactor | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Pioneer 3US — United StatesUnited States · Flyby | Launch failure | Fell back to Earth. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna 1USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR (OKB-1) · Flyby | Partial |
Firsts: First spacecraft to pass the Moon and to escape Earth’s gravity Sources differ: Intended as an impactor. NSSDCA classes it as a flyby; Siddiqi credits the first flyby to Luna 3 because Luna 1 was a failed impactor. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Pioneer 4US — United StatesNASA · Flyby | Partial |
Firsts: First US spacecraft to escape Earth Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-1A No.5USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Impactor | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna 2USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Impactor | Success |
Firsts: First object to hit the Moon Sources differ: Sources print the impact as 13 or 14 Sep: 21:02 UTC on 13 Sep was already 14 Sep in Moscow. Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 3USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Flyby | Success |
Firsts: First images of the lunar far side Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Pioneer P-3 (Able IVB)US — United StatesUnited States · Orbiter | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-3 No.1USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Flyby | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-3 No.2USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Flyby | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Pioneer P-30US — United StatesUnited States · Orbiter | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Pioneer P-31US — United StatesUnited States · Orbiter | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Ranger 1US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Test / precursor | Launch failure | Ranger test flight stranded in Earth orbit. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | Ranger 2US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Test / precursor | Launch failure | Ranger test flight stranded in Earth orbit. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | Ranger 3US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Impactor | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Ranger 4US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Impactor | Failure |
Firsts: First US spacecraft to strike the Moon Sources differ: NSSDCA lists it as an "Impact"; Siddiqi codes it a partial success. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Ranger 5US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Impactor | Failure | Missed the Moon by 725 km. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-6 No.2USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-6 No.3USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna 4USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Ranger 6US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Impactor | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-6 No.6USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-6 No.5USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Ranger 7US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Impactor | Success |
Firsts: First US close-up images of the Moon Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Ranger 8US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Impactor | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Kosmos 60 (Ye-6 No.9)USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Launch failure | Stranded in Earth orbit. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Ranger 9US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Impactor | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-6 No.8USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna 5USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 6USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Zond 3USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Flyby | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 7USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 8USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 9USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Success |
Firsts: First survivable landing on the Moon; First images from the lunar surface Sources differ: Siddiqi lists Luna 9 as the "first survivable landing" and Surveyor 1 as the "first soft-landing"; NSSDCA credits the Soviet programme with the first soft landing. See the records ledger. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Kosmos 111USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Orbiter | Launch failure | Stranded in Earth orbit. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna 10USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Orbiter | Success |
Firsts: First lunar orbiter Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Surveyor 1US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Lander | Success |
Firsts: First US soft landing ("first soft-landing" in Siddiqi’s ledger) Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Explorer 33US — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Partial | Did not reach lunar orbit. NSSDCA: it "failed to achieve lunar orbit but did achieve mission objectives". Sources differ: Wikipedia lists a launch failure; NSSDCA and Siddiqi (code P) record a partial success. Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Lunar Orbiter 1US — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Success |
Firsts: First US lunar orbiter Sources differ: Wikipedia lists a partial failure; Siddiqi codes a success. NSSDCA notes about 75% of the intended mission because of image smearing. Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 11USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Orbiter | Partial |
Its camera photographed only empty space. Siddiqi’s table codes the mission a success. Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Surveyor 2US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Lander | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 12USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Orbiter | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Lunar Orbiter 2US — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 13USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander | Success |
Firsts: First measurement of lunar soil properties (penetrometer) Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Lunar Orbiter 3US — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Surveyor 3US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Lander | Success |
Visited by the Apollo 12 crew in November 1969. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Lunar Orbiter 4US — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Success |
Firsts: First spacecraft in polar lunar orbit Sources differ: The NSSDCA timeline prints 8 May, which is the orbit-insertion date; launch was 4 May. Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Kosmos 159 (Ye-6LS No.111)USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Test / precursor | Partial | A lunar-orbiter test left stranded in high Earth orbit; Siddiqi codes it a partial success. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Surveyor 4US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Lander | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Explorer 35 (IMP-E)US — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Lunar Orbiter 5US — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Surveyor 5US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Lander | Success |
Firsts: First chemical analysis of lunar soil (alpha-scattering) Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Soyuz 7K-L1 No.4L (Zond)USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Uncrewed circumlunar return | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Surveyor 6US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Lander | Success |
Firsts: First powered takeoff from the lunar surface Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Soyuz 7K-L1 No.5L (Zond)USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Uncrewed circumlunar return | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Surveyor 7US — United StatesNASA / JPL · Lander | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-6LS No.112USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Orbiter | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna 14USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Orbiter | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Soyuz 7K-L1 No.7L (Zond)USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Uncrewed circumlunar return | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Zond 5USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Uncrewed circumlunar return | Success |
Firsts: First spacecraft to fly around the Moon and return to Earth, carrying living organisms Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Zond 6USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Uncrewed circumlunar return | Partial |
The flyby and guided skip re-entry worked; slow decompression then triggered the main parachute’s jettison at about 5.3 km. Sources differ: Siddiqi codes it a success; Wikipedia records a spacecraft failure. Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Apollo 8US — United StatesNASA · Crewed lunar orbit · crewed | Success |
Firsts: First crewed lunar orbit (Borman, Lovell, Anders) Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Soyuz 7K-L1 No.13L (Zond)USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Uncrewed circumlunar return | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-8 No.201 (Lunokhod)USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander + rover | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Soyuz 7K-L1S No.2 (N1 3L)USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Test / precursor | Launch failure | Test orbiter for the Soviet crewed-landing programme, on the N1 rocket. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Apollo 10US — United StatesNASA · Crewed lunar orbit · crewed | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-8-5 No.402USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Sample return | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Soyuz 7K-L1S No.5USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Test / precursor | Launch failure | Test orbiter for the Soviet crewed-landing programme, on the N1 rocket. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna 15USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Sample return | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Apollo 11US — United StatesNASA · Crewed landing · crewed | Success |
Firsts: First crewed landing on the Moon; First sample return Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Zond 7USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Uncrewed circumlunar return | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Kosmos 300USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Sample return | Launch failure | Stranded in Earth orbit. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Kosmos 305USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Sample return | Launch failure | Stranded in Earth orbit. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Apollo 12US — United StatesNASA · Crewed landing · crewed | Success |
Firsts: First pinpoint crewed landing Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-8-5 No.405USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Sample return | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Apollo 13US — United StatesNASA · Crewed lunar flyby · crewed | Failure |
The crew was rescued. Set the human distance record (248,655 mi / 400,171 km) that stood until Artemis II. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · NASA (mission blog) (6 Apr 2026) |
| Launch: | Luna 16USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Sample return | Success |
Firsts: First robotic sample return Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Zond 8USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Uncrewed circumlunar return | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 17 / Lunokhod 1USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander + rover | Success |
Firsts: First robotic rover on another world Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Apollo 14US — United StatesNASA · Crewed landing · crewed | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Apollo 15US — United StatesNASA · Crewed landing · crewed | Success |
Firsts: First crewed rover (Lunar Roving Vehicle) Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 18USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Sample return | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 19USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Orbiter | Success |
A gyro fault left it in a higher orbit than planned; it operated for 13 months. Siddiqi codes it a partial success (and prints the orbit year as 1972, a typo). Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 20USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Sample return | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Apollo 16US — United StatesNASA · Crewed landing · crewed | Success |
Sources differ: The NSSDCA index shows 20 April (US date); the landing was 21 April UTC. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Soyuz 7K-LOK No.6A (N1 7L)USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Orbiter | Launch failure | Lunar orbiter for the Soviet crewed programme, on the N1 rocket. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Apollo 17US — United StatesNASA · Crewed landing · crewed | Success |
Firsts: First scientist on the Moon (Harrison Schmitt) Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 21 / Lunokhod 2USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Lander + rover | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Explorer 49 (RAE-B)US — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 22USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Orbiter | Success |
Sources differ: The NSSDCA timeline prints 2 June, the orbit date; launch was 29 May. Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna 23USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Sample return | Partial |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Luna Ye-8-5M No.412USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Sample return | Launch failure | Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Luna 24USSR — Soviet UnionUSSR · Sample return | Success |
The last Soviet lunar mission, and the last soft landing on the Moon until Chang’e 3 in 2013. Sources differ: NSSDCA pages print 14 Aug, the lunar-orbit date; launch was 9 Aug. Landing time is 06:36 UT (Siddiqi) or 02:00 UT (NSSDCA). Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Hiten (MUSES-A) + HagoromoJP — JapanISAS · Orbiter | Partial |
Firsts: First lunar mission by a country other than the US or USSR; Demonstrated aerobraking (first pass 19 Mar 1991) Hiten itself worked; its Hagoromo sub-probe’s transmitter failed. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | ClementineUS — United StatesDoD (BMDO) + NASA · Orbiter | Success |
Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | AsiaSat 3 / HGS-1US — United StatesHughes Global Services (commercial salvage) · Flyby | Success |
Firsts: First commercial satellite to fly past the Moon (rescued from a bad transfer orbit) Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Lunar ProspectorUS — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | SMART-1ESA — Europe (ESA)ESA · Orbiter | Success |
Firsts: First European lunar mission; solar-electric propulsion Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Kaguya / SELENE (+ Okina, Ouna)JP — JapanJAXA · Orbiter | Success |
Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Chang’e 1CN — ChinaCNSA · Orbiter | Success |
Firsts: China’s first lunar mission Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Chandrayaan-1 (+ Moon Impact Probe)IN — IndiaISRO · Orbiter | Partial |
Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Lunar Reconnaissance OrbiterUS — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Operating |
Still operating; the imaging reference for every later landing. Sources differ: The NSSDCA timeline prints 17 Jun 2009; launch was 18 Jun 2009, 21:32 UTC. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | LCROSSUS — United StatesNASA · Impactor | Success |
Confirmed water ice in a permanently shadowed crater. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: — | ARTEMIS P1/P2 (THEMIS-B/C)US — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Success |
Firsts: First spacecraft to orbit the Earth–Moon L2 point (the first relay there was Queqiao, 2018) Launched earlier as THEMIS Earth-orbit probes and redirected to the Moon; our sources date the lunar phase, not the launch. Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Chang’e 2CN — ChinaCNSA · Orbiter | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | GRAIL (Ebb & Flow)US — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Success |
Twin probes that mapped the Moon’s gravity. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | LADEEUS — United StatesNASA · Orbiter | Success |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) |
| Launch: | Chang’e 3 / YutuCN — ChinaCNSA · Lander + rover | Success |
Firsts: First soft landing on the Moon since Luna 24 (1976); China became the third nation to soft-land The Yutu rover lost mobility during its second lunar day (2014) and operated until 2016. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · SpaceNews (14 Jan 2025) |
| Launch: | Chang’e 5-T1 (+ Manfred Memorial Moon Mission)CN — ChinaCNSA · Uncrewed circumlunar returnPartners: LuxSpace (Luxembourg): 4M payload | Success |
LuxSpace billed its 4M payload as the first privately funded mission to the Moon. It was not the first private hardware past the Moon: AsiaSat 3/HGS-1 flew by in 1998. Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) |
| Launch: | Queqiao (+ Longjiang-1/2)CN — ChinaCNSA · Relay | Success |
Firsts: First communications relay at the Earth–Moon L2 point Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Chang’e 4 / Yutu-2CN — ChinaCNSA · Lander + rover | Success |
Firsts: First landing on the lunar far side The lander continues science operations (Planetary Society). No official Yutu-2 status since 2024; NASA LRO images analysed by Phil Stooke suggest it has not moved since March 2024. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · The Planetary Society (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · SpaceNews (14 Jan 2025) |
| Launch: | BeresheetIL — IsraelSpaceIL + IAI (privately funded) · Lander | Failure |
Firsts: First privately funded spacecraft to orbit the Moon Sources: UPI (11 Apr 2019) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | Chandrayaan-2 (orbiter + Vikram + Pragyan)IN — IndiaISRO · Lander + rover | Partial |
The orbiter is still operating. Sources differ: The NSSDCA timeline prints "Apr 2019"; NSSDCA’s own catalogue record gives 22 Jul 2019. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASASpaceflight (Sep 2019) |
| Launch: | Chang’e 5CN — ChinaCNSA · Sample return | Success |
Firsts: First lunar sample return since 1976; First robotic rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · China National Space Administration (19 Dec 2020) |
| Launch: | CAPSTONEUS — United StatesNASA + Advanced Space · Orbiter | Success |
Firsts: First spacecraft in a near-rectilinear halo orbit Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | Danuri (KPLO)KR — South KoreaKARI (now KASA) · OrbiterPartners: NASA ShadowCam | Operating |
Firsts: South Korea’s first lunar mission Operations extended through the end of 2027. Sources: Korea AeroSpace Administration (11 Feb 2025) · Korea Herald (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | Artemis I (Orion, uncrewed)US — United StatesNASA · Test / precursorPartners: ESA (European Service Module) | Success |
Firsts: First flight of SLS Unexpected char loss on Orion’s heat shield led NASA to fly Artemis II on a modified entry profile. Sources: NASA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026) |
| Launch: | OMOTENASHI (Artemis I cubesat)JP — JapanJAXA · Lander | Failure |
Would have been the smallest lunar lander. Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | EQUULEUS (Artemis I cubesat)JP — JapanJAXA + University of Tokyo · Flyby | Success |
Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | LunaH-Map (Artemis I cubesat)US — United StatesArizona State University · Orbiter | Failure |
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | Lunar IceCube (Artemis I cubesat)US — United StatesMorehead State University · Orbiter | Failure | Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | LunIR (Artemis I cubesat)US — United StatesLockheed Martin · Flyby | Partial | Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | Hakuto-R Mission 1 (+ Rashid, SORA-Q)JP — Japanispace (private) · Lander + roverPartners: UAE MBRSC (Rashid rover); JAXA (SORA-Q) | Failure |
Firsts: First private Japanese landing attempt; First Arab-built lunar rover (lost with the lander) Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: ispace (May 2023) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | Lunar FlashlightUS — United StatesNASA / JPL · Orbiter | Failure |
Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | Chandrayaan-3 (Vikram + Pragyan)IN — IndiaISRO · Lander + rover | Success |
Firsts: First landing in the south polar region (as ISRO defines it); India became the fourth nation to soft-land The Pragyan rover drove about 101 m. Sources differ: "South polar region" has no agreed boundary; see the records ledger. Sources: ISRO (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | Luna 25RU — RussiaRoscosmos · Lander | Failure |
Firsts: First Russian lunar mission since 1976 Sources: Spaceflight Now (20 Aug 2023) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | SLIM (+ LEV-1, LEV-2/SORA-Q)JP — JapanJAXA · Lander | Success |
Firsts: First "pinpoint" landing: position error of about 10 m or less before the obstacle-avoidance manoeuvre; Japan became the fifth nation to soft-land |
| Launch: | Peregrine Mission OneUS — United StatesAstrobotic (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Failure |
First Vulcan flight. Its planned site was Sinus Viscositatis; it never attempted a landing. Sources: NASA (18 Jan 2024) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) |
| Launch: | IM-1 OdysseusUS — United StatesIntuitive Machines (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Partial |
Firsts: First commercial soft landing; First US landing since 1972 Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA APOD (24 Feb 2024) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Queqiao-2 (+ Tiandu-1/2)CN — ChinaCNSA · Relay | Operating |
Relays for Chang’e 4 and 6, and for Chang’e 7 and 8 when they fly. Design life 8–10 years. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | Chang’e 6 (+ ICUBE-Q)CN — ChinaCNSA · Sample returnPartners: France (DORN); ESA/Sweden (NILS); Italy (INRRI); Pakistan (ICUBE-Q cubesat) | Success |
Firsts: First samples ever returned from the lunar far side Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (28 Jun 2024) · The Planetary Society (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | Blue Ghost Mission 1US — United StatesFirefly Aerospace (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Success |
Firsts: First fully successful commercial lunar landing Delivered all 10 NASA payloads. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA (2 Mar 2025) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) |
| Launch: | Hakuto-R Mission 2 "Resilience" (+ Tenacious)JP — Japanispace · Lander + rover | Failure |
Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: ispace (24 Jun 2025) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) |
| Launch: | IM-2 Athena (+ PRIME-1, Grace, MAPP, Yaoki)US — United StatesIntuitive Machines (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Partial |
NASA’s release body gives "more than 1,300 feet (400 meters)"; its photo caption says about 820 ft. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA (release 25-025) (7 Mar 2025) · NASA (Mar 2025) |
| Launch: | Lunar TrailblazerUS — United StatesNASA / Caltech (SIMPLEx) · Orbiter | Failure |
Sources: NASA JPL (4 Aug 2025) |
| Launch: | Artemis II (Orion)US — United StatesNASA · Crewed lunar flyby · crewedPartners: CSA (Jeremy Hansen); ESA (European Service Module) | Success |
Firsts: First crewed flight beyond low Earth orbit since 1972; Greatest distance from Earth ever reached by humans Crew: Reid Wiseman (commander), Victor Glover (pilot), Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen (CSA). Heat-shield char loss was "significantly reduced". NASA is investigating a urine vent-line issue. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA (20 Apr 2026) · NASA (mission blog) (6 Apr 2026) · NASA (mission blog) (10 Apr 2026) · Via Satellite (12 Apr 2026) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: — | Chang’e 7CN — ChinaChina (lunar exploration programme; statements issued by CMSA) · Lander + rover | Postponed |
Orbiter, lander, rover and a hopping probe for permanently shadowed craters; six international instruments. CMSA, 23 Aug 2026: "In line with the principle of being prudent, reliable and failure-proof, and after a comprehensive assessment, the Chang’e-7 mission does not meet launch conditions and cannot be carried out in this year’s planned window." No cause and no new date were given. Thailand’s NARIT (a payload partner) blamed high-altitude winds and expects a 2027 window — a partner statement, not China’s. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (23 Aug 2026) · Xinhua (23 Aug 2026) · China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (19 Aug 2026) · gov.cn (Xinhua) (7 Sep 2024) · CNN (23 Aug 2026) |
| Launch: | Griffin Mission One ("Moon Base II")US — United StatesAstrobotic (NASA CLPS) · Lander + rover | Scheduled | Lander plus Astrolab’s FLIP rover for Mons Mouton near the south pole; the only lunar launch NASA expects in 2026. Falcon Heavy per Spaceflight Now. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: Aerospace America (AIAA) (15 Sep 2026) · Spaceflight Now (16 Jun 2026) · NASA (release 26-046) (26 May 2026) |
| Launch: | Blue Moon MK1 "Endurance" ("Moon Base I")US — United StatesBlue Origin (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Scheduled | Uncrewed cargo pathfinder — not the crew lander — for the Shackleton connecting ridge, carrying NASA’s SCALPSS cameras and a laser retroreflector. The slip followed the New Glenn explosion on its pad in May 2026. Sources: Aerospace America (AIAA) (15 Sep 2026) · NASA (release 26-046) (26 May 2026) · Spaceflight Now (30 Jun 2026) |
| Launch: | IM-3 Nova-C "Trinity" ("Moon Base III")US — United StatesIntuitive Machines (NASA CLPS) · LanderPartners: ESA; KASI (Korea) | Scheduled | Reiner Gamma swirl (Lunar Vertex). NASA had said 2026 on 26 May 2026. Sources: Aerospace America (AIAA) (15 Sep 2026) · NASA (release 26-046) (26 May 2026) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) |
| Launch: | IM-4 (CP-22)US — United StatesIntuitive Machines (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Scheduled | Mons Mouton. Sources: NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) · NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) |
| Launch: | Blue Moon MK1 #2 with VIPERUS — United StatesBlue Origin / NASA · Lander + rover | Scheduled | VIPER was cancelled in July 2024 and conditionally revived on 19 Sep 2025. The base task order covers design and demonstration; NASA "will decide whether to exercise the deployment option after reviewing Blue Origin’s first Blue Moon MK1 flight", which has slipped to early 2027. $190M is the total potential value. Sources: NASA (19 Sep 2025) |
| Launch: | ispace Mission 2.5 (lunar-orbit comms/nav satellites)JP — Japanispace · Orbiter | Scheduled | Sources: ispace (27 Mar 2026) |
| Launch: | Blue Ghost Mission 2 (+ Lunar Pathfinder, LuSEE-Night, Rashid 2)US — United StatesFirefly Aerospace (NASA CLPS) · Lander + roverPartners: ESA/SSTL (Lunar Pathfinder relay); UAE MBRSC (Rashid 2 rover) | Scheduled | Far-side lander. ESA’s Lunar Pathfinder relay and the UAE’s Rashid 2 rover ride with it, so their dates follow this mission. Sources: Aerospace America (AIAA) (15 Sep 2026) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) · Firefly Aerospace (22 May 2025) · Dubai Media Office (MBRSC) (3 Nov 2025) |
| Launch: | Four CLPS deliveries awarded 30 Jun 2026US — United StatesAstrobotic (2), Firefly, Intuitive Machines · Lander | Scheduled | Astrobotic $297.9M for two, Firefly $144.2M, Intuitive Machines $148.3M. Common payloads: SCALPSS, a laser retroreflector and the LETS radiation spectrometer. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA (30 Jun 2026) · Via Satellite (30 Jun 2026) |
| Launch: | MoonFall dronesUS — United StatesNASA (spacecraft built by Firefly) · Test / precursor | Scheduled | Four drones to scout Artemis landing sites. Sources: NASA (release 26-046) (26 May 2026) |
| Launch: | Artemis IV — first crewed landing since 1972US — United StatesNASA · Crewed landing · crewed | Scheduled | Four crew; two descend near the lunar south pole. NASA: "Lander readiness will determine which provider will safely carry them to the surface" — SpaceX Starship HLS or Blue Origin Blue Moon. SpaceX’s existing contract covered the former Artemis III and IV landings. Sources: NASA (RELEASE 26-022) (27 Feb 2026) · NASA ESDMD (3 Mar 2026) · NASA (updated 16 Mar 2026) · U.S. GAO (GAO-26-108556) (23 Jul 2026) · NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026) |
| Launch: | Artemis V — second landingUS — United StatesNASA · Crewed landing · crewed | Scheduled | NASA: "future missions about once per year thereafter". Before the February 2026 restructure it was assigned Blue Moon Mk2 with a launch "no later than March 2030" (OIG). Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA ESDMD (3 Mar 2026) · U.S. GAO (GAO-26-108556) (23 Jul 2026) · NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026) |
| Launch: | Chang’e 8CN — ChinaChina (lunar exploration programme) · Lander + roverPartners: Pakistan (Jinnah-1 rover, 30 kg); other international payloads (200 kg capacity) | Scheduled | Lander, rover and a multi-purpose robot near the south pole; tests 3-D printing of bricks from regolith. Chang’e 7 and 8 are to be parts of the ILRS "basic model". Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: gov.cn (Xinhua) (7 Sep 2024) · China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (24 Apr 2025) · Dawn (13 Aug 2026) · SpaceNews (Apr 2025) |
| Launch: | Chandrayaan-4 (sample return)IN — IndiaISRO · Sample return | Scheduled | Five modules on at least two LVM-3 launches, docked in orbit; up to 3 kg from about 84–86°S. Sources: Republic World (12 Dec 2025) · Business Standard (6 Feb 2025) · All India Radio News (5 Feb 2026) |
| Launch: | Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEXIN — IndiaISRO · Lander + roverPartners: JAXA (rover) | Scheduled | South-polar volatiles: drilling and water-ice measurement. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: Republic World (12 Dec 2025) · All India Radio News (5 Feb 2026) |
| Launch: | ispace Mission 3 (ULTRA lander)JP — Japanispace · Lander | Scheduled | Formerly Mission 4; METI SBIR funded. Sources: ispace (27 Mar 2026) |
| Launch: | ESA Moonlight (comms and navigation)ESA — Europe (ESA)ESA with Telespazio / SSTL · Relay | Scheduled | Sources: ESA (15 Oct 2024) |
| Launch: | Luna-26RU — RussiaRoscosmos / IKI · Orbiter | Scheduled | Polar orbiter and relay. Sources: Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026) |
| Launch: | Luna-27 (27a south pole / 27b north pole)RU — RussiaRoscosmos · Lander | Scheduled | Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: | ispace Mission 4JP — Japanispace · Lander | Scheduled | Formerly Mission 6; Space Strategy Fund. Sources: ispace (27 Mar 2026) |
| Launch: | China’s first crewed landingCN — ChinaChina Manned Space Agency · Crewed landing · crewed | Scheduled | Two Long March 10 launches; Mengzhou and the two-seat Lanyue lander meet in lunar orbit. CMSA, 23 May 2026: go all out to achieve, "on schedule" (如期), the first Chinese landing before 2030. No launch sequence has been officially dated. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (23 May 2026) · China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (27 Feb 2026) · China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (14 Jun 2024) · SpaceNews (Jul 2023) |
| Launch: | ispace Mission 5 (ex ispace-U.S. / Team Draper CP-12)JP — Japanispace-U.S. + Draper (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Scheduled | Schrödinger basin on the far side. Slipped from 2026 to 2027 (May 2025) and then to 2030 after an engine-vendor change. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: ispace (27 Mar 2026) · ispace-U.S. (9 May 2025) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) |
| Launch: | ESA Argonaut (ArgoNET)ESA — Europe (ESA)ESA (Thales Alenia Space-led) · Lander | Scheduled | Cargo lander for the south polar region. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: ESA (PR N°6–2025) (30 Jan 2025) |
| Launch: | Luna-29RU — RussiaRoscosmos · Lander | Projected | Per a Russian Academy of Sciences presentation (Kommersant via Meduza, Apr 2026). Sources: Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026) |
| Launch: | Korean lunar landerKR — South KoreaKASA · Lander | Scheduled | Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: Korea Herald (read 23 Sep 2026) |
| Launch: | Luna-30 (heavy rover)RU — RussiaRoscosmos · Lander + rover | Projected | The cited source puts the heavy lunar rover on Luna-30 (IKI, Oct 2025). Sources: Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026) |
| Launch: | Luna-28 (sample return)RU — RussiaRoscosmos · Sample return | Projected | Sources: Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026) |
| Launch: | Indian crewed landingIN — IndiaGovernment of India · Crewed landing · crewed | Projected | A policy goal with no hardware schedule behind it. Sources: Business Today (18 Oct 2023) |
| Launch: — | Blue Ghost Mission 3 (CP-21)US — United StatesFirefly Aerospace (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Scheduled | Gruithuisen Domes. NASA lists no date. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) |
| Launch: — | Blue Ghost Mission 4 (CS-6)US — United StatesFirefly Aerospace (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Scheduled | South pole. NASA lists no date. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) |
| Launch: — | Intuitive Machines Nova-D (CT-4)US — United StatesIntuitive Machines (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Scheduled | South pole; seven payloads (Planetary Society). NASA lists no date. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
Sources: NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) · The Planetary Society (Mar 2026) |
| Launch: — | Beresheet 2IL — IsraelSpaceIL · Lander | Paused | Was targeted for 2025. The March 2025 funding deadline was missed and the project suspended; an ISA–ASI letter of intent (January 2025) has produced no binding agreement. Unconfirmed — reported but not confirmed by a primary source:
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