Moon Missions and Countless Lunar Discoveries.

The moon, with its captivating allure, has long been a subject of fascination for humanity. In an effort to learn more about the moon’s geology, history, and environment, scientists from many different countries have launched missions there. These ventures provide data, shedding light on the formation of our solar system. Additionally, these missions also promote technology developments that have uses in telecommunications, Earth monitoring, and space exploration. They also demonstrate a nation’s advancement in technology and dedication to space exploration.

Successful landing and impact missions by country

Having carried out six lunar lander missions successfully, the U.S. is recognized as a pioneer in lunar missions. These incredible feats were completed between 1969 and 1972 as part of the well-known Apollo program. 12 astronauts stepped foot on the moon during the Apollo missions, which included Apollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, Apollo 16, and Apollo 17. Among them were Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong, who made history by becoming the first people to set foot on the moon. 842 kilograms (1,855 pounds) of lunar samples were also collected by the lander missions and carefully returned to Earth for scientific analysis. These lunar samples have given scientists a wealth of knowledge about the makeup, geology, and history of the moon. On the lunar surface, the Apollo astronauts carried out a wide range of scientific investigations, including analyses of the lunar gravitational field, atmosphere, and seismic activity. These missions proved that it is possible for humans to travel to space by safely landing there and investigating its surface. Each mission had specific objectives, with Apollo 11 landing in the sea of tranquillity and Apollo 14 targeting the Fra Mauro highlands, each accompanied by a tailored set of scientific experiments. Contrarily, the U.S. also carried out four successful impactor missions, including Ranger 4(1962), Ranger 7 (1964), Ranger 8(1965), and Ranger 9(1965). 

Through the Luna program, which ran from 1959 to 1976, the USSR also made substantial advancements in lunar exploration. Luna 9 (1966), Luna 13 (1966), Luna 16 (1970), and Luna 24 (1976) made significant advances in our understanding of the moon’s geology and surface conditions. With the Luna 2 impactor mission in September 1959, the USSR also made history by becoming the first nation to purposefully impact the moon. With three successful lander missions under its belt, China has become a major player in lunar missions. The Chang’e series which included Chang’e 3 (2013), Chang’e 4 (2019), and Chang’e 5 (2020), was designed to gather lunar soil samples for return to Earth while also studying the lunar surface and environment. With the Chang’e 4 mission in December 2018, China made history by being the first nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the “dark” or “far” side of the moon. The succeeding missions, including Chang’e 5, kept expanding the frontiers of lunar exploration and knowledge.

India has also contributed significantly to lunar exploration. Chandrayaan-1, launched in November 2008, successfully deployed a moon impact probe, confirming the presence of water through the analysis of underground debris. The mission also marked India’s first hard landing on the lunar south pole. Building upon this achievement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) embarked on Chandrayaan-2 in September 2019, aiming for a soft lunar landing. Although the lander encountered challenges during the landing attempt, the orbiter remained operational, furthering India’s lunar exploration goals. The recent launch of Chandrayaan-3 on July 14, 2023, signals India’s perseverance and determination. With a successful lunar injection into a circular polar orbit, the lander and rover are slated to touch down near the lunar south pole region on August 23, 2023.

Lunar mission setbacks

While remarkable progress has been made, lunar missions have also encountered setbacks. A total of nine unsuccessful lander or impactor missions have been undertaken by the U.S., the USSR, China, and India. Among these, the U.S. faced five failures, including Surveyor 4, which lost contact with Earth moments before landing, and the Apollo 13 mission remains the most-well known failure, as it was a crewed mission that had to be aborted following an oxygen tank explosion. The USSR experienced failures with Luna 15, Luna 18, and Luna 23, all attributed to spacecraft guidance system malfunctions. Moreover, due to an issue with the braking mechanism, India suffered a setback when the Vikram lander crashed during the Chandrayaan-2 mission.

India, China, the USSR, and the U.S. have all contributed significantly to expanding human knowledge. These missions have improved our knowledge of the geology, composition, and history of the moon. Furthermore, they promote technical developments with uses outside of space while acting as stepping stones for upcoming planetary and lunar research. The next stage of lunar exploration promises to be a thrilling one.