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 32 of 173. Download the full catalogue (CSV), free to reuse with attribution to SpaceNexus (CC BY 4.0; how to cite). Missions with their own page are linked by name. Landing attempts only: every Moon landing attempt.
| Launch (UTC) | Mission | Result | Key events, firsts, sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch: – | Chang’e 7CN (China)China (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) said the main driver "appeared to be" weather, specifically higher-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) · China in Space (31 Aug 2026) |
| Launch: | Griffin Mission One ("Moon Base II")US (United States)Voyager Lunar Systems (Astrobotic), a Voyager Technologies company (NASA CLPS) · Lander + rover | Scheduled | Lander plus Astrolab’s FLIP rover for the Nobile crater region near Mons Mouton, near the south pole, 10 payloads in all; on 15 Sep 2026 NASA expected it to be the only lunar launch of 2026. Falcon Heavy per Spaceflight Now. Voyager Technologies completed its acquisition of Astrobotic on 13 Jul 2026. Sources differ: NASA’s own pages name the site differently: its Griffin-1 event page says "the Nobile Crater at the lunar South Pole"; its CLPS deliveries page says Mons Mouton. The two are neighbours, so we say "the Nobile crater region near Mons Mouton". Sources: NASA (20 Oct 2026) · Voyager Technologies (SEC filing) (2 Nov 2026) · The Space Review (26 Oct 2026) · Aerospace America (AIAA) (15 Sep 2026) · NASA (updated 14 Oct 2026) · NASA Science (updated 23 Oct 2026) · Voyager Technologies (13 Jul 2026) · Spaceflight Now (16 Jun 2026) · NASA (release 26-046) (26 May 2026) |
| Launch: First part of 2027 (NASA, 15 Sep 2026; was "no earlier than fall 2026") | Blue Moon MK1 "Endurance" ("Moon Base I")US (United States)Blue 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: First part of 2027 (NASA); first quarter of 2027 (Intuitive Machines CEO) | IM-3 Nova-C "Trinity" ("Moon Base III")US (United States)Intuitive 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 23 Oct 2026) |
| Launch: | IM-4 (CP-22)US (United States)Intuitive Machines (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Scheduled | Mons Mouton. Sources: NASA Science (updated 23 Oct 2026) · NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) |
| Launch: | Blue Moon MK1 #2 with VIPERUS (United States)Blue 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 make the decision to exercise that option after the execution and review of the base task and of Blue Origin’s first flight of the Blue Moon MK1 lander", which has slipped to early 2027. On 20 Oct 2026 NASA said VIPER "will embark on a mission to the lunar South Pole region in 2027" and that the rover is "fully built and undergoing final testing"; no decision to exercise the option has been announced. $190M is the total potential value. Sources: NASA (19 Sep 2025) · NASA (17 Jul 2024) · NASA (20 Oct 2026) |
| Launch: | ispace Mission 2.5 (first Lunar Connect relay satellite)JP (Japan)ispace (satellite); delivered to lunar orbit by Argo Space · RelayPartners: Argo Space (Argonaut transfer vehicle) | Scheduled | One satellite, Alpine, the first of ispace’s Lunar Connect constellation ("at least five satellites orbiting the Moon" planned) for communication and positioning. Argo Space carries it to lunar orbit on its water-powered Argonaut vehicle; the delivery contract was finalised on 17 Sep 2026. |
| Launch: Later in 2027 (NASA, 15 Sep 2026) | Blue Ghost Mission 2 (+ Lunar Pathfinder, LuSEE-Night, Rashid 2)US (United States)Firefly 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 23 Oct 2026) · Firefly Aerospace (22 May 2025) · Dubai Media Office (MBRSC) (3 Nov 2025) |
| Launch: | Blue Ghost Mission 3 (CP-21)US (United States)Firefly Aerospace (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Scheduled | Gruithuisen Domes; six NASA payloads ($179M). Sources: NASA (18 Dec 2024) · NASA Science (updated 23 Oct 2026) |
| Launch: | Four CLPS deliveries awarded 30 Jun 2026US (United States)Astrobotic (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 States)NASA (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 States)NASA · 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 (23 Oct 2026) · NASA (mission blog) (23 Oct 2026) · 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 States)NASA · Crewed landing · crewed | Scheduled | NASA: "future missions about once per year thereafter". GAO (July 2026): the single remaining ICPS upper stage flies on Artemis IV, and Vulcan Centaur V upper stages on "subsequent missions". Before the February 2026 restructure it was assigned Blue Moon Mk2 with a launch "no later than March 2030" (OIG). 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: | Chandrayaan-4 (sample return)IN (India)ISRO · Sample return | Scheduled | Five modules on at least two LVM-3 launches, assembled in orbit. Unconfirmed (reported but not confirmed by a primary source):
Sources: Republic World (12 Dec 2025) · Business Standard (6 Feb 2025) · All India Radio News (5 Feb 2026) |
| Launch: | Chandrayaan-5 / LUPEXIN (India)ISRO · Lander + roverPartners: JAXA (rover) | Scheduled | South-polar volatiles: drilling and water-ice measurement. The ISRO chairman said in mid-March 2025 that approval had come "just three days back", and described a 250 kg rover built with Japan (IANS). Launch on JAXA’s H3-24L (ISRO: "The mission will be launched by JAXA onboard its H3-24L launch vehicle"). Sources: Republic World (12 Dec 2025) · All India Radio News (5 Feb 2026) · IANS (via NewKerala) (17 Mar 2025) · ISRO (15 May 2025) |
| Launch: | ispace Mission 3 (ULTRA lander)JP (Japan)ispace · Lander | Scheduled | Formerly Mission 4; METI SBIR funded. Launch contracted on an MHI H3 rocket (29 Jul 2026). |
| Launch: | ESA Moonlight (comms and navigation)ESA (Europe (ESA))ESA with Telespazio / SSTL · Relay | Scheduled | Sources: ESA (15 Oct 2024) |
| Launch: | Luna-26RU (Russia)Roscosmos / IKI · Orbiter | Scheduled | Polar orbiter and relay. Sources: IKI RAS (read 3 Nov 2026) · Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026) |
| Launch: | Blue Ghost Mission 4 (CS-6)US (United States)Firefly Aerospace (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Scheduled | South pole region. Sources: NASA (29 Jul 2025) · NASA Science (updated 23 Oct 2026) |
| Launch: | Chang’e 8CN (China)China (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 for the Leibnitz-Beta Plateau near the south pole (CNSA); tests 3-D printing of bricks from regolith. Chang’e 7 and 8 are to be parts of the ILRS "basic model". SpaceNews reported on 10 Sep 2026 that CMSA, now in charge of lunar missions, "appears to be reconfiguring" the robotic landing programme; there is no official statement. Unconfirmed (reported but not confirmed by a primary source):
Sources: China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (24 Apr 2025) · gov.cn (Xinhua) (7 Sep 2024) · China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (24 Apr 2025) · Dawn (13 Aug 2026) · SpaceNews (Apr 2025) · SpaceNews (10 Sep 2026) |
| Launch: | ispace Mission 4JP (Japan)ispace · Lander | Scheduled | Formerly Mission 6; Space Strategy Fund. Sources: ispace (27 Mar 2026) |
| Launch: | Luna-27A and 27B (landers)RU (Russia)Roscosmos · Lander | Scheduled | Unconfirmed (reported but not confirmed by a primary source):
Sources: IKI RAS (read 3 Nov 2026) · Interfax (11 Aug 2025) · Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) |
| Launch: Before 2030 (2030年前) | China’s first crewed landingCN (China)China Manned Space Agency · Crewed landing · crewed | Scheduled | Two Long March 10 launches; Mengzhou and the two-seat Lanyue lander meet in lunar orbit. Crew of three, two landing (Wang Xiang, 7th Manned Space Symposium, 31 Oct 2026, reported by Global Times; Mengzhou’s three seats to lunar orbit were in CMSA’s 2024 naming announcement). 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. 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) · Global Times (Fan Wei), via Sina (31 Oct 2026) · CCTV.com (CMSA naming announcement) (24 Feb 2024) |
| Launch: | ESA ArgonautESA (Europe (ESA))ESA (Thales Alenia Space-led) · Lander | Scheduled | Cargo lander for the south polar region; carries roughly 1,500 kg to the surface. Unconfirmed (reported but not confirmed by a primary source):
Sources: ESA (PR N°76–2025) (20 Nov 2025) · ESA (PR N°6–2025) (30 Jan 2025) |
| Launch: | Luna-29RU (Russia)Roscosmos · Orbiter | Projected | An orbital spacecraft (орбитальный аппарат), per a Russian Academy of Sciences presentation (Interfax and Kommersant via Meduza, Apr 2026). Sources: Interfax (7 Apr 2026) · Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026) |
| Launch: | Korean lunar landerKR (South Korea)KASA · Lander | Scheduled | The 1.8-ton national lander stays at 2032. On 3 Jul 2026 the National Space Committee approved moving a 700 kg public-private lander up by two years to 2030, on a Nuri rocket, as "a crucial stepping stone" toward it (KASA, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily and SatNews). The 2030 lander has no row of its own yet: no KASA primary has been fetched. Unconfirmed (reported but not confirmed by a primary source):
Sources: Korea Herald (read 23 Sep 2026) · Korea JoongAng Daily (20 Jul 2026) · SatNews (16 Jul 2026) |
| Launch: | Luna-30 (heavy rover)RU (Russia)Roscosmos · Lander + rover | Projected | The spacecraft carrying the rovers (Russian Academy of Sciences, Apr 2026). Sources: Interfax (7 Apr 2026) · Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026) |
| Launch: | Luna-28 (sample return)RU (Russia)Roscosmos · Sample return | Projected | Sources: Interfax (7 Apr 2026) · Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026) |
| Launch: | Indian crewed landingIN (India)Government of India · Crewed landing · crewed | Projected | A policy goal with no hardware schedule behind it. Sources: Business Today (18 Oct 2023) |
| Launch: – | IM-5, Intuitive Machines Nova-D (CT-4)US (United States)Intuitive Machines (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Scheduled | Awarded 24 Mar 2026 ($180.4M); targets Mons Malapert near the south pole; the first CLPS order to need the larger Nova-D lander. Intuitive Machines says seven payloads; NASA’s CLPS page lists six NASA payloads. No launch year has been given. Unconfirmed (reported but not confirmed by a primary source):
Sources: Intuitive Machines (24 Mar 2026) · NASA Science (updated 23 Oct 2026) · The Planetary Society (24 Mar 2026) |
| Launch: – | CP-12 far-side delivery (Draper / ispace-U.S.; ispace’s Mission 5)JP (Japan)ispace-U.S. + Draper (NASA CLPS) · Lander | Cancelled | Schrödinger basin on the far side. Slipped from 2026 to 2027 (May 2025), then to 2030 after an engine-vendor change (ispace, 27 Mar 2026). On 15 Jul 2026 ispace announced that Draper “has mutually agreed with NASA to end” CLPS task order CP-12; ispace-U.S. plans to bid under the next CLPS framework instead. Sources: ispace (15 Jul 2026) · ispace (27 Mar 2026) · ispace-U.S. (9 May 2025) |
| Launch: – | Beresheet 2IL (Israel)SpaceIL · 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):
|
Licence: this data is published under CC BY 4.0 (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International). Use it, share it and adapt it, commercially too, with credit to SpaceNexus and a link. It is our own compilation from the public sources linked on every row; quoted statements and those sources remain their owners’, and the illustrations are not part of the dataset.
Suggested citation
SpaceNexus. (2026). Race to the Moon: catalogue of lunar missions since 1958 (Version 2026-11-03) [Data set]. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22985974. Licensed CC BY 4.0.
@misc{spacenexus_moon_catalogue_20261103,
author = {{SpaceNexus}},
title = {Race to the Moon: catalogue of lunar missions since 1958},
year = {2026},
version = {2026-11-03},
howpublished = {\url{https://spacenexus.us/moon/missions}},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.22985974},
note = {Licensed CC BY 4.0},
}Version 2026-11-03: the date the data was last reviewed against its sources. Persistent identifier: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22985974. Download: CSV (UTF-8).
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