The Moon — our presence on the lunar surface, past, present and futureTheMoon

Palus Putredinis (near side)

First human-made object to reach the Moon — a deliberate hard impact.

Oceanus Procellarum

First soft landing and first photos from the lunar surface.

Oceanus Procellarum

First US soft landing; scouted sites for the Apollo crews.

Sea of Tranquility

Armstrong & Aldrin — humanity's first steps on another world.

Hadley–Apennine

First mission with the Lunar Roving Vehicle — boosted surface range.

Taurus–Littrow

The last time humans walked on the Moon — for now.

Mare Imbrium

First robotic rover on the Moon; its retroreflector is still ranged today.

Mare Imbrium

China's first soft landing and rover — first surface mission since 1976.

Von Kármán crater (far side)

First-ever soft landing on the Moon's far side.

South Pole–Aitken (far side)

First samples ever returned from the lunar far side.

Near the south pole

First soft landing in the high-southern-latitude region.

Shioli crater

'Moon Sniper' pinpoint-landing demo — touched down within metres of target.

Malapert A (near south pole)

First commercial soft landing on the Moon.

Mare Crisium

First fully successful commercial lunar landing, upright and on target.

Near south pole (intended)

Crashed during descent — a setback for Russia's return to the surface.

Mare Serenitatis

First privately-funded lunar lander attempt; crashed on final descent.