Programs

NASA · 1961–1972

NASA’s program that landed the first humans on the Moon. Between 1968 and 1972, it sent 24 astronauts to the Moon, and 12 of them walked on its surface.

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NASA · 2017–present

NASA’s program to return astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972, land them at the lunar south pole, and build a permanent base there.

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CNSA · 2004–present

China’s lunar exploration program, which has orbited, landed on and returned samples from the Moon, including the first landing and first samples from its far side.

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USSR · 1959–1976

The Soviet Union’s robotic lunar program, which made the first visit to the Moon, the first images of its far side, the first soft landing, the first rover and the first robotic sample return.

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NASA · 2026-preset

NASA’s program to build a permanent outpost at the lunar south pole, using commercial landers to deliver rovers, science and infrastructure ahead of and alongside Artemis astronauts.

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NASA · 1977-present

NASA’s twin spacecraft launched in 1977 to explore the outer planets, now the farthest human-made objects, still sending data back from interstellar space.

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