Race to the Moon
Missions that left Earth for the Moon and the programme steps around them, oldest first, then everything still ahead. Launch attempts that never left Earth orbit are in the full catalogue.
Data reviewed against sources as of · All dates UTC unless a local time is shown
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Luna 1: Passed the Moon (about 5,995 km, NSSDCA; 6,400 km, Siddiqi)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Pioneer 4: Passed within about 60,000 km — too far for its sensor
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Ranger 3: Missed the Moon by about 36,800 km
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Ranger 4: Hit the far side; no data returned
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Luna 4: Missed; flew past at about 8,500 km
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Ranger 6: Impact; cameras failed
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Ranger 9: Impact; images shown on live TV
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Luna 6: Missed; passed at 161,000 km
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Zond 3: Flyby; far-side imagery
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Lunar Orbiter 1: Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Lunar Orbiter 1: First image of Earth from lunar distance
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Lunar Orbiter 2: Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Lunar Orbiter 3: Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Lunar Orbiter 4: Entered polar lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Surveyor 4: Contact lost during descent
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Explorer 35 (IMP-E): Reached lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Lunar Orbiter 5: Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Surveyor 6: Hopped on the surface
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Zond 5: Returned to Earth (tortoises survived)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Zond 6: Capsule crashed on return after cabin decompression
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Apollo 10: Entered lunar orbit; the lunar module descended to about 15.6 km
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Apollo 11: Landed, Sea of Tranquility (Armstrong, Aldrin; Collins in orbit)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Luna 15: Crashed while Apollo 11 was on the surface
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Apollo 11: Returned to Earth with the first lunar samples
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Apollo 12: Landed, Ocean of Storms, beside Surveyor 3
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · NASA (mission blog) (6 Apr 2026)
Apollo 13: Landing aborted; lunar flyby (14–15 Apr)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · NASA (mission blog) (6 Apr 2026)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Luna 16: Sample capsule returned
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Luna 17 / Lunokhod 1: Landed; Lunokhod 1 deployed
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Apollo 15: Landed, Hadley–Apennine
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Luna 20: Sample capsule returned
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Apollo 16: Landed, Descartes Highlands
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Apollo 17: Landed, Taurus–Littrow
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Apollo 17: Left the surface — the last crewed departure to date
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Luna 21 / Lunokhod 2: Landed; Lunokhod 2 deployed
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Explorer 49 (RAE-B): Entered lunar orbit (radio astronomy)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Luna 23: Landed damaged; the drill could not operate
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Luna 24: Sample capsule returned
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Hiten (MUSES-A) + Hagoromo launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Hiten (MUSES-A) + Hagoromo: Hagoromo released toward the Moon (its transmitter had failed on 21 Feb)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Hiten (MUSES-A) + Hagoromo: Hiten entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Hiten (MUSES-A) + Hagoromo: Impact
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Clementine: Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Lunar Prospector: Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
AsiaSat 3 / HGS-1: Lunar flyby
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
AsiaSat 3 / HGS-1: Second lunar flyby
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Lunar Prospector: Deliberate impact
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
SMART-1: Lunar orbit (capture 13 Nov; first perilune 15 Nov)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Kaguya / SELENE (+ Okina, Ouna) launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Kaguya / SELENE (+ Okina, Ouna): Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Chang’e 1: Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Chandrayaan-1 (+ Moon Impact Probe) launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Chandrayaan-1 (+ Moon Impact Probe): Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Chandrayaan-1 (+ Moon Impact Probe): Moon Impact Probe hit the surface
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Kaguya / SELENE (+ Okina, Ouna): Impact
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter: Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Chandrayaan-1 (+ Moon Impact Probe): Contact lost; mission ended early
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
LCROSS: Impact in Cabeus crater
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
ARTEMIS P1/P2 (THEMIS-B/C): P1 reached the Earth–Moon L2 point
Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Chang’e 2: Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
ARTEMIS P1/P2 (THEMIS-B/C): Reached the Earth–Moon L1 point
Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
ARTEMIS P1/P2 (THEMIS-B/C): Both moved into lunar orbits
Sources: NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Chang’e 2: Left for the Sun–Earth L2 point
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
GRAIL (Ebb & Flow): Entered lunar orbit (31 Dec and 1 Jan)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Chang’e 2: Flew past asteroid Toutatis
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
GRAIL (Ebb & Flow): Planned impact
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · SpaceNews (14 Jan 2025)
Chang’e 3 / Yutu: Landed, Mare Imbrium
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · SpaceNews (14 Jan 2025)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA History Division (A. Siddiqi) (Sep 2018)
Chang’e 5-T1 (+ Manfred Memorial Moon Mission) launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026)
Queqiao (+ Longjiang-1/2) launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Queqiao (+ Longjiang-1/2): Longjiang-2 entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Queqiao (+ Longjiang-1/2): Queqiao entered its Earth–Moon L2 halo orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · The Planetary Society (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · SpaceNews (14 Jan 2025)
Chang’e 4 / Yutu-2: Landed in Von Kármán crater, far side
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · The Planetary Society (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · SpaceNews (14 Jan 2025)
Sources: UPI (11 Apr 2019) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Beresheet: Entered lunar orbit
Sources: UPI (11 Apr 2019) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Beresheet: Crashed during descent
Sources: UPI (11 Apr 2019) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Chandrayaan-2 (orbiter + Vikram + Pragyan) launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASASpaceflight (Sep 2019)
Chandrayaan-2 (orbiter + Vikram + Pragyan): Entered lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASASpaceflight (Sep 2019)
Chandrayaan-2 (orbiter + Vikram + Pragyan): Vikram lost during descent and crashed (7 Sep IST)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASASpaceflight (Sep 2019)
New-generation crew spacecraft prototype flies and returns
A full-scale test article launched on Long March 5B reached about 8,000 km apogee and returned on 8 May 2020 (13:49 BJT), per CMSA via Xinhua. A precursor of Mengzhou, not the current lunar design.
Sources: Xinhua (8 May 2020) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · China National Space Administration (19 Dec 2020)
Chang’e 5: Landed near Mons Rümker, Oceanus Procellarum
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · China National Space Administration (19 Dec 2020)
Chang’e 5: Robotic rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · China National Space Administration (19 Dec 2020)
Chang’e 5: Returned 1,731 g of samples (17 Dec BJT)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · China National Space Administration (19 Dec 2020)
China and Russia sign the ILRS memorandum
Sources: China National Space Administration (9 Mar 2021)
ILRS roadmap and Guide for Partnership published
Sources: China National Space Administration (16 Jun 2021)
SpaceX Starship HLS contract (Option A)
Selected in April 2021; awarded in July 2021 after a protest-driven stop-work, with a potential value of about $3 billion. Covered an uncrewed demo and the (former) Artemis III landing.
Sources: NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
State Council white paper: continue studying a human lunar landing
"Continue studies … on the plan for a human lunar landing, develop new-generation manned spacecraft". Chang’e-7 to make "a precise landing in the moon’s polar regions and a hopping detection in lunar shadowed area" (no year given).
Sources: State Council of the PRC (white paper) (28 Jan 2022)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Sources: Korea AeroSpace Administration (11 Feb 2025) · Korea Herald (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
EQUULEUS (Artemis I cubesat): Lunar flyby en route to Earth–Moon L2
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
SpaceX HLS Option B exercised
A sustaining lander for the (former) Artemis IV, potential value about $1 billion (OIG).
Sources: NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
CAPSTONE: Near-rectilinear halo orbit insertion burn completed (13 Nov US Eastern)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Artemis I (Orion, uncrewed) launched
Sources: NASA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
EQUULEUS (Artemis I cubesat) launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
LunaH-Map (Artemis I cubesat) launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Lunar IceCube (Artemis I cubesat) launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
LunIR (Artemis I cubesat) launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
OMOTENASHI (Artemis I cubesat) launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
LunaH-Map (Artemis I cubesat): Propulsion failed; never reached lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Artemis I (Orion, uncrewed): Lunar flyby
Sources: NASA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
OMOTENASHI (Artemis I cubesat): JAXA determined the landing could not be performed (JST)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Artemis I (Orion, uncrewed): Splashdown after 25 d 10 h 53 min
Sources: NASA (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
Hakuto-R Mission 1 (+ Rashid, SORA-Q) launched
Sources: ispace (May 2023) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Danuri (KPLO): Entered lunar orbit
Sources: Korea AeroSpace Administration (11 Feb 2025) · Korea Herald (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Crewed landing phase approved by the central government
CMSA (2024): the phase was "approved by the central government in 2023", with the overall goal of landing Chinese astronauts on the Moon before 2030.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (14 Jun 2024)
Hakuto-R Mission 1 (+ Rashid, SORA-Q): Entered lunar orbit
Sources: ispace (May 2023) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Hakuto-R Mission 1 (+ Rashid, SORA-Q): Landing attempt failed (26 Apr JST)
Sources: ispace (May 2023) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Blue Origin selected for a second crew lander (Blue Moon Mk2)
About $3.1 billion for the crew-lander portion, excluding cargo-lander line items (OIG, March 2026).
Sources: NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
Lunar Flashlight: NASA ended the mission; it never reached lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
CMSA sets out its preliminary crewed landing plan
Zhang Hailian (CMSA deputy chief designer): two Long March 10 launches; the lander stack and the crew ship (each about 26 t) dock in lunar orbit; land two astronauts "before 2030".
Sources: SpaceNews (Jul 2023)
Chandrayaan-3 (Vikram + Pragyan) launched
Sources: ISRO (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Sources: Spaceflight Now (20 Aug 2023) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Sources: Spaceflight Now (20 Aug 2023) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Luna 25: Contact lost after a bad orbit-lowering burn; crashed
Sources: Spaceflight Now (20 Aug 2023) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Chandrayaan-3 (Vikram + Pragyan): Landed at about 69.37°S in the south polar region
Sources: ISRO (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
India sets goals: a space station by 2035 and an Indian on the Moon by 2040
Sources: Business Today (18 Oct 2023)
Peregrine Mission One launched
Sources: NASA (18 Jan 2024) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026)
Peregrine Mission One: Propellant leak; controlled re-entry, never landed
Sources: NASA (18 Jan 2024) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026)
SLIM (+ LEV-1, LEV-2/SORA-Q): Landed; came to rest on its nose (20 Jan 00:20 JST)
Sources: NASA APOD (24 Feb 2024) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
IM-1 Odysseus: Landed at Malapert A near the south pole; came to rest tilted after breaking a leg
Sources: NASA APOD (24 Feb 2024) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Crew ship named Mengzhou and lander named Lanyue
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (14 Jun 2024) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Starship Flight 3: propellant moved between two tanks inside one ship
NASA OIG: "between two tanks within the Starship vehicle". Ship-to-ship transfer — what the HLS architecture needs — has not been attempted.
Sources: NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
Queqiao-2 (+ Tiandu-1/2) launched
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Queqiao-2 (+ Tiandu-1/2): Captured into lunar orbit
Sources: NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Japan–NASA arrangement: two Japanese astronauts to land; JAXA pressurised rover
Signed at NASA Headquarters. Shared goal of a Japanese national as the first non-American on the Moon; no mission named.
Chang’e 6 (+ ICUBE-Q) launched
Sources: China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (28 Jun 2024) · The Planetary Society (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Chang’e 6 (+ ICUBE-Q): Landed in the Apollo basin, South Pole–Aitken basin, far side (2 Jun BJT)
Sources: China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (28 Jun 2024) · The Planetary Society (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
First three-engine YF-100K cluster firing for Long March 10
382 t of ground thrust (CMSA). The release gives no location.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (14 Jun 2024)
Chang’e 6 (+ ICUBE-Q): Ascent from the surface
Sources: China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (28 Jun 2024) · The Planetary Society (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Chang’e 6 (+ ICUBE-Q): Returned 1,935.3 g of far-side samples
Sources: China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (28 Jun 2024) · The Planetary Society (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
VIPER rover cancelled
Conditionally revived in September 2025
Sources: NASA (19 Sep 2025)
SLIM (+ LEV-1, LEV-2/SORA-Q): Lunar operations concluded (JST)
ILRS "basic model" by 2035 restated; Senegal joins
Chang’e-7 "around 2026" and Chang’e-8 "around 2028"; six international instruments on Chang’e-7; 200 kg of international payload capacity on Chang’e-8.
Sources: gov.cn (Xinhua) (7 Sep 2024)
ESA launches the Moonlight communications and navigation programme
Sources: ESA (15 Oct 2024)
Sources: NASA (2 Mar 2025) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026)
Hakuto-R Mission 2 "Resilience" (+ Tenacious) launched
Sources: ispace (24 Jun 2025) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
ESA contracts a Thales Alenia Space-led consortium for the Argonaut lunar lander
Sources: ESA (PR N°6–2025) (30 Jan 2025)
Chandrayaan-4 sample return announced for 2027
Minister Jitendra Singh; later restated as "by 2028" by the ISRO chairman.
Sources: Business Standard (6 Feb 2025)
Lunar suit named Wangyu and crewed rover named Tansuo; "before 2030" restated
Sources: gov.cn (Xinhua) (12 Feb 2025)
IM-2 Athena (+ PRIME-1, Grace, MAPP, Yaoki) launched
Sources: NASA (release 25-025) (7 Mar 2025) · NASA (Mar 2025)
Lunar Trailblazer: Contact lost the day after launch (solar arrays not oriented to the Sun)
Sources: NASA JPL (4 Aug 2025)
Sources: NASA JPL (4 Aug 2025)
Blue Ghost Mission 1: Landed near Mons Latreille, Mare Crisium (03:34 EST)
Sources: NASA (2 Mar 2025) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026)
Sources: NASA (release 25-025) (7 Mar 2025) · NASA (Mar 2025)
IM-2 Athena (+ PRIME-1, Grace, MAPP, Yaoki): Mission ended (12:15 am CST)
Sources: NASA (release 25-025) (7 Mar 2025) · NASA (Mar 2025)
ILRS: "17 countries and international organizations" and 50+ research institutions
Stated in Shanghai on 23 Apr 2025. Chang’e-8 international payloads selected, including Pakistan’s 30 kg rover.
Sources: China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (24 Apr 2025)
Hakuto-R Mission 2 "Resilience" (+ Tenacious): Entered lunar orbit
Sources: ispace (24 Jun 2025) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Roscosmos and CNSA sign a memorandum on a lunar power plant for the ILRS
Signed on the day of the Putin–Xi talks in Moscow. Roscosmos: the ILRS "should be completed by 2036"; in 2024 it had said a reactor by 2035. China "has never formally announced" the nuclear plan (Reuters).
Sources: Interfax (12 May 2025) · Reuters (via Yahoo) (23 Apr 2025)
Hakuto-R Mission 2 "Resilience" (+ Tenacious): Hard landing in Mare Frigoris (6 Jun JST)
Sources: ispace (24 Jun 2025) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Mengzhou pad-abort test
12:30 BJT at Jiuquan; China’s first pad abort since 1998. Mengzhou seats up to seven in its Earth-orbit version.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (17 Jun 2025) · gov.cn (Xinhua) (17 Jun 2025)
Reconciliation act adds about $10 billion for NASA
Includes $4.1 billion for the SLS rockets for Artemis IV and V and $2.6 billion for Gateway.
Sources: SpacePolicyOnline (3 Jul 2025)
Lunar Trailblazer: Mission ended
Sources: NASA JPL (4 Aug 2025)
Fission Surface Power directive
At least 100 kWe, closed Brayton cycle, awards to up to two providers with an option to down-select at PDR, "readiness to launch by the first quarter of FY30".
Sources: NASA (Acting Administrator directive) (4 Aug 2025)
Lanyue integrated landing and takeoff test
At the extraterrestrial landing test site in Huailai, Hebei; announced 7 Aug. Lanyue (crew module plus propulsion module) carries two astronauts.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (7 Aug 2025) · gov.cn (Xinhua) (7 Aug 2025)
Long March 10 first-stage seven-engine tethered static fire
Wenchang, 15:00 BJT; thrust close to 1,000 t.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (15 Aug 2025)
Second Long March 10 tethered static fire, with engine restart
320 s, including low throttle and a restart (a landing-burn simulation). Completed the planned tethered-fire series.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (12 Sep 2025)
VIPER delivery conditionally revived on Blue Moon MK1 #2
$190 million total potential value. The base order covers design and demonstration; the deployment option is decided after Blue Moon MK1’s first flight.
Sources: NASA (19 Sep 2025)
NASA asks SpaceX and Blue Origin for lander-acceleration proposals
Task orders to both providers; proposals were due in December 2025.
Sources: NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
CMSA: the schedule is tight
"进度紧张，各项工作面临风险挑战" — "the schedule is tight and all work faces risks and challenges" (Shenzhou-21 press conference). Long March 10A and Mengzhou-1 to debut in 2026.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (30 Oct 2025) · SpaceNews (30 Oct 2025)
ISRO chairman: Chandrayaan-4 and -5 "by 2028"
Sources: Republic World (12 Dec 2025)
Executive Order 14369, "Ensuring American Space Superiority"
"Returning Americans to the Moon by 2028"; "establishing initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030"; "a lunar surface reactor ready for launch by 2030".
Sources: The White House (Executive Order 14369) (18 Dec 2025)
Mengzhou-1: uncrewed debut on Long March 10A, docking at Tiangong
Official plan: 2026 (CMSA mission-patch notices, Oct/Nov 2025). Not in CMSA’s February 2026 annual plan; in May CMSA spoke of verifying the Earth-orbit system "over the next two years through multiple space-station flights".
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (28 Oct 2025) · China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (26 Nov 2025) · CGTN (1 Nov 2025) · China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (27 Feb 2026) · China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (23 May 2026) · China in Space (26 Aug 2026) · China in Space (2 Apr 2026)
Wangyu suit "final prototype"
Attributed to Yang Liwei by China in Space; the report’s date is unverified
Sources: China in Space (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Starship HLS uncrewed lunar landing demonstration
Must include a lunar ascent. OIG (March 2026): expected "to slip to the end of 2026" at the earliest; it now depends on first orbit and ship-to-ship transfer.
Sources: NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
New Glenn return to flight
Sources: Spaceflight Now (30 Jun 2026)
NASA–DOE memorandum on a lunar surface reactor
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy (13 Jan 2026)
Mobile Launcher 2 construction halted
Sources: U.S. GAO (GAO-26-108556) (23 Jul 2026)
Long March 10 low-altitude flight and Mengzhou max-Q abort
A single first-stage core and a Mengzhou, both prototype (初样) hardware, from a new pad at Wenchang; China’s first max-Q crew abort and first sea splashdown of a crew capsule and a rocket stage. The stage was salvaged from the sea on 13 Feb.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (11 Feb 2026) · China National Space Administration (11 Feb 2026) · China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (13 Feb 2026)
CMSA 2026 plan: "before 2030" restated; lunar ground facilities at Wenchang
瞄准2030年前实现中国人首次登陆月球的目标. The annual plan lists two crewed and one cargo flight for 2026 and does not mention Mengzhou-1.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (27 Feb 2026)
Artemis restructured: Artemis III becomes an Earth-orbit test; Artemis IV becomes the first landing
NASA: "the Artemis III mission, now in 2027 … to prepare for an Artemis IV landing in 2028", and "at least one surface landing every year thereafter". SLS standardised on the Block 1 configuration.
Sources: NASA (RELEASE 26-022) (27 Feb 2026)
Ship-to-ship cryogenic propellant transfer demonstration
No confirmed new date
Needed by Starship HLS. Planned for March 2025, then March 2026 (OIG); not attempted as of Flight 13.
Sources: NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026) · U.S. GAO (GAO-26-108556) (23 Jul 2026)
NASA drops the Exploration Upper Stage; Artemis IV "early 2028", Artemis V "by late 2028"
NASA is "no longer planning to use the Exploration Upper Stage or Mobile Launcher 2". A ULA Centaur V upper stage was selected through a sole-source justification; which flight first uses it is not confirmed by NASA.
Sources: NASA ESDMD (3 Mar 2026) · U.S. GAO (GAO-26-108556) (23 Jul 2026)
NASA OIG report on the Human Landing System contracts
SpaceX’s lander "will not be ready for a June 2027 lunar landing"; it is "too early to determine the technical feasibility" of acceleration; NASA has no capability to rescue a stranded crew.
Sources: NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026) · Spaceflight Now (10 Mar 2026)
Ignition: NASA pauses Gateway and announces a south-pole Moon Base
Gateway paused "in its current form"; a phased Moon Base at about $20 billion over seven years (as presented, per the Planetary Society); an expanded CLPS of "up to 30 robotic landings starting in 2027" for roughly $6 billion over a decade.
Sources: NASA (24 Mar 2026) · The Planetary Society (Mar 2026) · SpaceQ (24 Mar 2026) · U.S. GAO (GAO-26-108556) (23 Jul 2026)
ispace re-plans: Mission 2.5 (2027), Missions 3–5 (2028–2030)
Sources: ispace (27 Mar 2026)
Italy–NASA Statement of Intent on the Moon Base
Italy (Thales Alenia Space Italia) supplies the multi-purpose habitat module and gets at least one Italian astronaut seat on a future Artemis mission. Italy has led the habitat design since a June 2022 agreement.
Sources: European Spaceflight (2 Apr 2026)
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)
FY2027 budget request: NASA $18.8 billion, Artemis $8.5 billion
Against $24.4 billion enacted for FY2026. Proposes redirecting the $2.6 billion of Gateway money to a lunar base camp ($175 million new line).
Sources: SpacePolicyOnline (3 Apr 2026)
Artemis II (Orion): Lunar flyby: closest approach about 4,067 miles above the far side
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)
Artemis II (Orion): New human distance record: 252,756 miles (406,771 km) from Earth
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)
Russia revises Luna-28/29/30 timeline to 2036/2032/2034
Sources: Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026)
CMSA announces it will integrate crewed and robotic lunar work
"将对现有载人登月和无人探月领域资源力量进行深度统合". Chang’e-7 had fully arrived at Wenchang by the evening of 9 Apr.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (10 Apr 2026)
Artemis II (Orion): Splashdown off San Diego, 2.9 miles from target
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)
NASA OIG on lunar suits (IG-26-006)
If Axiom’s delays follow the historical average, "the Artemis and ISS demonstrations may not occur until 2031".
Sources: SpacePolicyOnline (20 Apr 2026)
Artemis III SLS core stage arrives at Kennedy
Sources: NASA (Artemis III news and updates) (read 23 Sep 2026)
Tianzhou-10 carries a lander propellant-slosh experiment
A surface-tension tank sloshing test to verify crewed-landing vehicle specifications (CMSA).
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (23 May 2026)
NASA outlines Artemis III: Orion docks with both landers’ pathfinders in Earth orbit
"Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 human landing system pathfinder" and "SpaceX’s Starship human landing system pathfinder"; a non-propulsive spacer replaces the upper stage.
Sources: NASA (13 May 2026)
Starship Flight 12, the first V3 ship
Suborbital. The ship succeeded; the booster did not complete its boostback burn and crashed uncontrolled in the Gulf.
Sources: Space.com (22 May 2026) · NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
Crewed and robotic lunar programmes merged into the 月球探测工程 (Lunar Exploration Project)
Integrated in "missions, resources and teams" (CMSA spokesperson Zhang Jingbo, 09:00 BJT, Jiuquan). Upcoming: a Long March 10 technical verification flight and the first flights of Mengzhou and Lanyue — no dates given. "Go all out to achieve, on schedule (如期), … before 2030." The statement says nothing about CNSA’s international role or the ILRS.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (23 May 2026) · gov.cn (Xinhua) (23 May 2026) · South China Morning Post (25 May 2026)
Moon Base awards: two lunar terrain vehicles, lander task orders, MoonFall drones
Astrolab CLV-1 ($219M) and Lunar Outpost Pegasus ($220M), both to be delivered by 2028; Blue Origin task orders ($188M plus a $280.4M option) to deliver them; four MoonFall drones built by Firefly for 2028. Moon Base I, II and III named.
Sources: NASA (release 26-046) (26 May 2026) · SpacePolicyOnline (26 May 2026) · Astrolab (26 May 2026)
New Glenn explodes during a static fire at LC-36
About 9 pm EDT on 28 May; cause under investigation, with early analysis pointing to the first stage’s aft section. LC-36 is New Glenn’s only pad; Blue Moon MK1 slipped to early 2027.
Sources: Spaceflight Now (29 May 2026) · Spaceflight Now (30 Jun 2026)
Artemis III crew named
Randy Bresnik (commander), Luca Parmitano (pilot, ESA — "the first time an ESA astronaut has been assigned an Artemis mission"), Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio; backup Bob Hines.
Sources: NASA (release 26-048) (9 Jun 2026)
ESA decides next steps for its Gateway hardware
I-Hab continues to critical design review, then repurposing is assessed; Lunar View is slowed; Lunar Link may be evaluated for Moonlight.
Sources: European Spaceflight (23 Jun 2026)
Four more CLPS deliveries awarded for late 2028
Sources: NASA (30 Jun 2026) · Via Satellite (30 Jun 2026)
Artemis III booster stacking begins
Stacking began in early July and was more than halfway complete by 27 Aug; RS-25 installation began in late August.
Sources: NASA (Artemis III news and updates) (read 23 Sep 2026)
Long March 10B maiden flight reaches orbit; booster caught by net at sea
A single-core commercial variant of the Long March 10 family with a methalox second stage; CASC: "the world’s first [net]-based recovery".
Sources: Scientific American (10 Jul 2026) · SatNews (11 Jul 2026)
Long March 5 Y14 for Chang’e-7 arrives at Wenchang
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (13 Jul 2026)
GAO assessment of NASA major projects
HLS cost and schedule baselines "under review"; the lunar suit programme’s key decision point deferred, and the suit "does not meet several sizing requirements".
Sources: U.S. GAO (GAO-26-108556) (23 Jul 2026)
Starship Flight 13 (V3)
Suborbital; released 20 Starlink V3 satellites on a path that deorbited them by design. SpaceX: "softest splashdown we have ever had". The booster hit the water harder than planned.
Sources: Space.com (Jul 2026)
Chang’e-7 and Long March 5 Y14 rolled out to the pad
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (19 Aug 2026)
Chang’e-7 postponed out of this year’s window
CMSA: “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 given.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (23 Aug 2026) · Xinhua (23 Aug 2026) · CBS News (23 Aug 2026)
NASA expects only one lunar launch in 2026 (Griffin-1)
Sources: Aerospace America (AIAA) (15 Sep 2026)
Starship Flight 14 — first planned orbital flight
"As early as Monday, September 28, pending regulatory approval" (SpaceX, 17 Sep 2026)
Up to 26 Starlink V3 satellites; 75-minute window opening 8:15 am EDT. The first 13 flights were all suborbital. Reaching orbit would move the US on rung L1.
Sources: Space.com (updated 17 Sep 2026)
Griffin Mission One ("Moon Base II")
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.
Sources: Aerospace America (AIAA) (15 Sep 2026) · Spaceflight Now (16 Jun 2026) · NASA (release 26-046) (26 May 2026)
ESA interim ministerial in Italy decides Gateway contributions
Sources: European Spaceflight (23 Jun 2026)
FY2027 continuing resolution runs out
NASA is funded at FY2026 levels until then
Sources: Computing Research Association (3 Sep 2026)
Blue Moon MK1 "Endurance" ("Moon Base I")
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)
IM-3 Nova-C "Trinity" ("Moon Base III")
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)
Mons Mouton.
Sources: NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026) · NASA NSSDCA Master Catalog (read 23 Sep 2026)
ispace Mission 2.5 (lunar-orbit comms/nav satellites)
Sources: ispace (27 Mar 2026)
Artemis III: crewed docking test with lander pathfinders in Earth orbit
About two weeks. Orion docks with the Blue Origin pathfinder for about two days, then with the Starship pathfinder for about a day. Also tests the AxEMU suit.
Sources: NASA (RELEASE 26-022) (27 Feb 2026) · NASA ESDMD (3 Mar 2026) · NASA (release 26-048) (9 Jun 2026) · NASA (updated 12 Jun 2026) · U.S. GAO (GAO-26-108556) (23 Jul 2026)
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)
Blue Ghost Mission 2 (+ Lunar Pathfinder, LuSEE-Night, Rashid 2)
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)
Analyst sequence: uncrewed Mengzhou to the Moon (2027), Lanyue plus a crewed Mengzhou in lunar orbit (2028), landing (2029 or 2030)
Inferred by Daniel Marín (Eureka, 19 Apr 2025) from an unofficial presentation image; not an official schedule. IEEE Spectrum (Feb 2026) gives a similar sequence without a CMSA citation.
Sources: Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary) · IEEE Spectrum (2 Feb 2026)
Artemis IV — first crewed landing since 1972
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)
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).
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)
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)
South-polar volatiles: drilling and water-ice measurement.
Sources: Republic World (12 Dec 2025) · All India Radio News (5 Feb 2026)
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".
Sources: gov.cn (Xinhua) (7 Sep 2024) · China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (24 Apr 2025) · Dawn (13 Aug 2026) · SpaceNews (Apr 2025)
Four CLPS deliveries awarded 30 Jun 2026
Astrobotic $297.9M for two, Firefly $144.2M, Intuitive Machines $148.3M. Common payloads: SCALPSS, a laser retroreflector and the LETS radiation spectrometer.
Sources: NASA (30 Jun 2026) · Via Satellite (30 Jun 2026)
Chang’e-8: in-situ resource tests near the south pole
Sources: gov.cn (Xinhua) (7 Sep 2024) · Dawn (13 Aug 2026)
ispace Mission 3 (ULTRA lander)
Formerly Mission 4; METI SBIR funded.
Sources: ispace (27 Mar 2026)
Polar orbiter and relay.
Sources: Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026)
Luna-27 (27a south pole / 27b north pole)
Sources: Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026) · Wikipedia (read 23 Sep 2026, secondary)
Four drones to scout Artemis landing sites.
Sources: NASA (release 26-046) (26 May 2026)
ESA Moonlight (comms and navigation)
Sources: ESA (15 Oct 2024)
Artemis IV: first crewed landing since 1972
Lander not yet designated — "lander readiness will determine which provider". OIG: both providers face challenges that could further affect delivery schedules for a 2028 landing.
Sources: NASA (RELEASE 26-022) (27 Feb 2026) · NASA ESDMD (3 Mar 2026) · NASA (updated 16 Mar 2026) · NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
Artemis V: second landing
Sources: NASA ESDMD (3 Mar 2026) · U.S. GAO (GAO-26-108556) (23 Jul 2026)
Lunar terrain vehicles delivered to the south pole
Sources: NASA (release 26-046) (26 May 2026)
Danuri (KPLO): Planned guided impact
Sources: Korea AeroSpace Administration (11 Feb 2025) · Korea Herald (read 23 Sep 2026) · NASA NSSDCA (updated 10 Jul 2025)
Danuri guided impact
Sources: Korea AeroSpace Administration (11 Feb 2025) · Korea Herald (read 23 Sep 2026)
Formerly Mission 6; Space Strategy Fund.
Sources: ispace (27 Mar 2026)
Blue Moon Mk2 uncrewed demonstration (with cryogenic propellant transfer)
A pre-restructure OIG projection.
Sources: NASA Office of Inspector General (IG-26-004) (10 Mar 2026)
Fission surface reactor ready for launch
Directive: readiness to launch by Q1 FY2030 (Oct–Dec 2029). EO 14369: "a lunar surface reactor ready for launch by 2030". No prime vendor award found as of September 2026.
Sources: NASA (Acting Administrator directive) (4 Aug 2025) · The White House (Executive Order 14369) (18 Dec 2025)
Moon Base Phase 2: power, communications, JAXA pressurised rover
Phase plan, not a hardware schedule
Sources: SpaceQ (24 Mar 2026)
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.
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)
First Chinese crewed landing
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (23 May 2026) · China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (27 Feb 2026) · SpaceNews (Jul 2023)
Long March 10 technical verification flight; Mengzhou and Lanyue first flights
Named as upcoming by CMSA on 23 May 2026, with no dates.
Sources: China Manned Space Agency (CMSE site) (23 May 2026)
ispace Mission 5 (ex ispace-U.S. / Team Draper CP-12)
Schrödinger basin on the far side. Slipped from 2026 to 2027 (May 2025) and then to 2030 after an engine-vendor change.
Sources: ispace (27 Mar 2026) · ispace-U.S. (9 May 2025) · NASA Science (updated 6 May 2026)
EO goal: initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost
Policy goal; no definition of continuous crewing
Sources: The White House (Executive Order 14369) (18 Dec 2025) · NASA (updated 26 Mar 2026)
Cargo lander for the south polar region.
Sources: ESA (PR N°6–2025) (30 Jan 2025)
Sources: Korea Herald (read 23 Sep 2026)
Per a Russian Academy of Sciences presentation (Kommersant via Meduza, Apr 2026).
Sources: Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026)
Moon Base Phase 3: long-duration human presence
ASI multi-purpose habitats and a CSA lunar utility vehicle. There is no official date for continuous occupation.
Sources: SpaceQ (24 Mar 2026) · The Planetary Society (Mar 2026)
The cited source puts the heavy lunar rover on Luna-30 (IKI, Oct 2025).
Sources: Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026)
ILRS "basic model" at the south pole
Officially "an expandable and maintainable system capable of long-term robotic operation with short-term human participation".
Sources: China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (24 Apr 2025) · gov.cn (Xinhua) (7 Sep 2024)
Russian–Chinese lunar reactor
Partner statement; China has not formally announced it
Sources: Reuters (via Yahoo) (23 Apr 2025) · Interfax (12 May 2025)
ILRS completion (Roscosmos)
Partner statement
Sources: Interfax (12 May 2025)
Sources: Meduza (relaying Kommersant) (7 Apr 2026)
ILRS "extended model": a network linking the south pole, equator and far side
"2040s" — Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar programme (23 Apr 2025). "By 2050" — Xinhua’s own summary (Sep 2024). Both shown.
Sources: China National Space Administration (Xinhua) (24 Apr 2025) · gov.cn (Xinhua) (7 Sep 2024)
A policy goal with no hardware schedule behind it.
Sources: Business Today (18 Oct 2023)