File:Apollo 11 first step.jpg
Still frame from a video transmission, taken moments before Neil Armstrong became the first human to step onto the surface of the Moon, at 02:56 UTC on 21 July 1969. An estimated 500 million people worldwide watched this event, the largest television audience for a live broadcast at that time.
Moon landing
A comprehensive timeline documenting humanity's journey to the Moon, from the Soviet Union's pioneering Luna missions during the Cold War Space Race through the Apollo program's historic crewed landings, to the modern era of international and commercial lunar exploration. This timeline spans over six decades of technological achievement and scientific discovery.
1957 CE - 1960 CE
Launch of Sputnik 1
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 as the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth, initiating the Space Race. This unexpected event was a source of pride to the Soviets and shock to the U.S., demonstrating Soviet technological superiority and raising fears of surprise nuclear attacks.
Luna 2 - First Hard Moon Landing
The Soviet Union performed the first hard Moon landing with Luna 2 spacecraft, making it the first human-made object to touch the Moon. The spacecraft intentionally crashed into the Moon at high speed.
Luna 3 Photographs Far Side of Moon
Luna 3 spacecraft captured the first photography of the never-before-seen far side of the Moon, representing a major Soviet space achievement during the Space Race.
File:Luna 3 moon.jpg
The first image of another world from space, returned by Luna 3, showed the far side of the Moon in October 1959.
1961 CE - 1964 CE
Ranger 4 - First U.S. Hard Moon Landing
The United States duplicated the Soviet achievement of a hard Moon landing with the Ranger 4 spacecraft, intentionally crashing it into the Moon at high speed.
1965 CE - 1968 CE
Luna 9 - First Soft Moon Landing
The Soviet Union accomplished the first soft landing on the Moon with Luna 9, which also took the first pictures from the lunar surface. This was a major milestone in lunar exploration, demonstrating the capability to land intact on the Moon.
File:The Soviet Union 1966 CPA 3317 stamp (Luna 9 on Moon's Surface and 1st Television Program of Moon Pictures on February 4).png
Stamp with a drawing of the first soft landed probe Luna 9, next to the first view of the lunar surface photographed by the probe
1969 CE - 1972 CE
Apollo 11 - First Crewed Moon Landing
Apollo 11 became the first crewed mission to land on the Moon. Neil Armstrong became the first human to step onto the lunar surface at 02:56 UTC on July 21, 1969, followed by Buzz Aldrin. An estimated 500 million people worldwide watched this event, the largest television audience for a live broadcast at that time.
File:Apollo 11 first step.jpg
Still frame from a video transmission, taken moments before Neil Armstrong became the first human to step onto the surface of the Moon, at 02:56 UTC on 21 July 1969. An estimated 500 million people worldwide watched this event, the largest television audience for a live broadcast at that time.
Apollo 17 - Last Crewed Moon Landing
Apollo 17 marked the end of the Apollo lunar landing program. Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt landed on the Moon on December 14, 1972. Cernan was the last man to step off the lunar surface, ending a 41-month period of crewed lunar missions that began with Apollo 11.
File:Lunar surface shortly after landing, Apollo 16.jpg
The view through the window of the Lunar Module Orion shortly after Apollo 16's landing
1973 CE - 1976 CE
Luna 24 - Last Soviet Moon Landing
Luna 24 was the last Soviet soft landing on the Moon. After this mission, there were no soft landings on the Moon until Chang'e 3 in 2013, marking a 37-year gap in lunar surface missions.
2013 CE - 2016 CE
Chang'e 3 - First Moon Landing in 37 Years
China's Chang'e 3 mission made the first soft landing on the Moon since Luna 24 in 1976, ending a 37-year gap in lunar surface missions. This marked China's entry into the exclusive group of nations achieving soft lunar landings.
2017 CE - 2020 CE
Chang'e 4 - First Far Side Moon Landing
China's Chang'e 4 made the first landing on the far side of the Moon in January 2019. All previous soft landings had taken place on the near side of the Moon, making this a historic first in lunar exploration.
2021 CE - 2024 CE
Chandrayaan-3 - India's First Successful Moon Landing
ISRO successfully landed its Chandrayaan-3 module in the lunar south pole region at 6:04 pm IST (12:34 GMT), making India the fourth nation to successfully complete a soft landing on the Moon. The Vikram lander and Pragyan rover marked the first uncrewed soft landing in the little-explored south pole region.
SLIM - Japan's First Moon Landing
JAXA successfully landed its SLIM lander on January 19, 2024, making Japan the fifth nation to successfully complete a soft landing on the Moon.
Odysseus - First Commercial Moon Landing
Intuitive Machines' Odysseus successfully landed on the Moon on February 22, 2024, marking the United States' first soft unmanned Moon landing in over 50 years and the first successful landing of a privately owned spacecraft on the Moon. The lander broke a strut during landing and rested at an angle, with impaired communications. It operated until February 29, 2024.
2025 CE - 2025 CE
Blue Ghost - First Fully Successful Commercial Moon Landing
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander made the first fully successful commercial Moon landing after softly landing upright near Mons Latreille in Mare Crisium. Part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, Blue Ghost operated for 14 days, including 5 hours into the lunar night, marking the longest commercial operations on the Moon to date. The mission operated 10 NASA instruments and concluded on March 16, 2025.