List of artificial objects on the Moon

This is a partial listing of artificial materials on the Lunar surface. The table below does not separately list small items such as retroreflectors, Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Packages, or the commemorative, artistic, and personal objects left there by Apollo astronauts, such as the US flags, commemorative plaques attached to the ladders of the Apollo Lunar Modules, the silver astronaut pin left by Alan Bean in honor of Clifton C. Williams who he replaced, the Fallen Astronaut statuette and memorial plaque left by the crew of Apollo 15, and the golf balls Alan Shepard hit during an Apollo 14 moonwalk.

The remains of five S-IVB third stages of Saturn V rockets from the Apollo program are the heaviest single pieces sent to the Lunar surface. Humans have left over 187,400 kilograms (413,100 lb) of material on the Moon, and 380 kilograms (838 lb) of Moon rock was brought back to Earth by Apollo and Luna missions. The only artificial objects on the Moon that are still in use are the retroreflectors for the lunar laser ranging experiments left there by the Apollo 11, 14, and 15 astronauts and by the Lunokhod 1 and Lunokhod 2 missions.[1]

Objects at greater than 90 degrees east or west are on the far side of the Moon, including Ranger 4, Lunar Orbiter 1, Lunar Orbiter 2, and Lunar Orbiter 3.

Legend

Colors
No data collection
Transmitted data
Operational

Table of objects

Artificial object Image Nationality Year Mass (kg) Status Location
Luna 2
 USSR 1959 390.2 Intentionally crashed 29°06′N 0°00′E / 29.1°N -0°E / 29.1; -0 [2]
Third stage of Luna 2 Vostok rocket
 USSR 1959 9100 Intentionally crashed 29°06′N 0°00′E / 29.1°N -0°E / 29.1; -0 [3]
Ranger 4
 US 1962 331 Intentionally crashed 15°30′S 130°42′W / 15.5°S 130.7°W / -15.5; -130.7 [4]
Ranger 6
 US 1964 381 Intentionally crashed 9°21′29″N 21°28′48″E / 9.358°N 21.480°E / 9.358; 21.480 [5]
Ranger 7
 US 1964 365.7 Intentionally crashed 10°38′S 20°36′W / 10.63°S 20.60°W / -10.63; -20.60 [6]
Luna 5  USSR 1965 1474 Crashed 8°N 23°W / 8°N 23°W / 8; -23 [7]
Luna 7  USSR 1965 1504 Crashed 9°48′N 47°48′W / 9.8°N 47.8°W / 9.8; -47.8 [8]
Luna 8  USSR 1965 100 Crashed 9°06′N 63°18′W / 9.1°N 63.3°W / 9.1; -63.3 [9]
Ranger 8
 US 1965 367 Intentionally crashed 2°38′17″N 24°47′13″E / 2.638°N 24.787°E / 2.638; 24.787 [10]
Ranger 9
 US 1965 367 Intentionally crashed 12°49′41″S 2°23′13″W / 12.828°S 2.387°W / -12.828; -2.387 [11]
Luna 9
 USSR 1966 100 Landed 7°05′N 64°22′W / 7.08°N 64.37°W / 7.08; -64.37 [12]
Luna 10
 USSR 1966 1600 Crashed
(post-mission)
? [13][14]
Luna 11
 USSR 1966 1640 Crashed ? [13][15]
Luna 12
 USSR 1966 1670 Crashed ? [13][16]
Surveyor 1
 US 1966 270 Landed 2°28′26″S 43°20′20″W / 2.474°S 43.339°W / -2.474; -43.339 [17]
Luna 13  USSR 1966 1700 Landed 18°52′N 62°03′W / 18.87°N 62.05°W / 18.87; -62.05 [18]
Lunar Orbiter 1
 US 1966 386 Crashed
(post-mission)
6°42′N 162°00′E / 6.70°N 162°E / 6.70; 162 [19]
Surveyor 2
 US 1966 292 Crashed 5°30′S 12°00′W / 5.5°S 12°W / -5.5; -12 [20]
Lunar Orbiter 2
 US 1966 385 Crashed
(post-mission)
3°00′N 119°00′E / 3.0°N 119°E / 3.0; 119 [21]
Lunar Orbiter 3
 US 1966 386 Crashed
(post-mission)
14°18′N 97°42′W / 14.3°N 97.7°W / 14.3; -97.7 [22]
Surveyor 3
 US 1967 281[23] Landed 3°00′54″S 23°25′05″W / 3.015°S 23.418°W / -3.015; -23.418 [24]
Lunar Orbiter 4
 US 1967 386 Crashed
(post-mission)
? [13][25]
Surveyor 4
 US 1967 283 Crashed 0°24′N 1°20′W / 0.4°N 1.33°W / 0.4; -1.33 [26]
Explorer 35 (IMP-E)
 US 1967 104.3 Crashed
(post mission)
? [13][27]
Lunar Orbiter 5
 US 1967 386 Crashed
(post-mission)
3°S 83°W / 3°S 83°W / -3; -83 [28]
Surveyor 5
 US 1967 281 Landed 1°27′40″N 23°11′42″E / 1.461°N 23.195°E / 1.461; 23.195 [29]
Surveyor 6
 US 1967 282 Landed 0°29′N 1°24′W / 0.49°N 1.40°W / 0.49; -1.40 [30]
Surveyor 7
 US 1967 290 Landed 40°52′S 11°28′W / 40.86°S 11.47°W / -40.86; -11.47 [31]
Luna 14
 USSR 1968 1670 Crashed ? [13][32]
Apollo 10 LM-4 Snoopy descent stage
 US 1969 2211 Crashed
(post-mission)
? [13][33]
Luna 15
 USSR 1969 2718 Crashed ? [34]
Apollo 11 LM-5 Eagle descent stage
 US 1969 2034 Landed 0°40′27″N 23°28′23″E / 0.6741°N 23.4730°E / 0.6741; 23.4730 [35]
Apollo 11 LM-5 Eagle ascent stage[36]
 US 1969 2184 Crashed
(post-mission)
? [37]
Apollo 12 LM-6 Intrepid descent stage
 US 1969 2211 Landed 3°00′45″S 23°25′18″W / 3.0124°S 23.4216°W / -3.0124; -23.4216 [38]
Apollo 12 LM-6 Intrepid ascent stage[36]
 US 1969 2164 Crashed
(post-mission)
3°56′S 21°12′W / 3.94°S 21.20°W / -3.94; -21.20 [39]
Luna 16 descent stage[40]
 USSR 1970 1380 Landed 0°41′S 56°18′E / 0.68°S 56.3°E / -0.68; 56.3 [41]
Luna 17 & Lunokhod 1  USSR 1970 5600 Landed 38°17′N 35°00′W / 38.28°N 35.0°W / 38.28; -35.0 [42]
Apollo 13 S-IVB (S-IVB-508)[43]
 US 1970 13454 Intentionally crashed 2°45′S 27°52′W / 2.75°S 27.86°W / -2.75; -27.86 [44]
Luna 18
 USSR 1971 1880 Crashed 3°34′N 56°30′E / 3.57°N 56.5°E / 3.57; 56.5 [45]
Luna 19
 USSR 1971 1880 Crashed ? [13][46]
Apollo 14 S-IVB (S-IVB-509)
 US 1971 14016 Intentionally crashed 8°05′S 26°01′W / 8.09°S 26.02°W / -8.09; -26.02[47]
Apollo 14 LM-8 Antares descent stage
 US 1971 2144 Landed 3°38′43″S 17°28′17″W / 3.6453°S 17.4714°W / -3.6453; -17.4714[48]
Apollo 14 LM-8 Antares ascent stage[36]
 US 1971 2132 Crashed
(post-mission)
3°25′S 19°40′W / 3.42°S 19.67°W / -3.42; -19.67[49]
Apollo 15 S-IVB (S-IVB-510)
 US 1971 14036 Intentionally crashed 1°31′S 11°49′W / 1.51°S 11.81°W / -1.51; -11.81[50]
Apollo 15 LM-10 Falcon descent stage
 US 1971 2809 Landed 26°07′56″N 3°38′02″E / 26.1322°N 3.6339°E / 26.1322; 3.6339[51]
Apollo 15 Lunar Rover
 US 1971 210 Landed 26°05′N 3°40′E / 26.08°N 3.66°E / 26.08; 3.66
Apollo 15 LM-10 Falcon ascent stage[36]
 US 1971 2132 Crashed
(post-mission)
26°22′N 0°15′E / 26.36°N 0.25°E / 26.36; 0.25[52]
Apollo 15 subsatellite
 US 1971 36 Crashed
(post-mission)
?[13][53]
Luna 20 descent stage[40]
 USSR 1972 < 5727 Landed 3°34′N 56°30′E / 3.57°N 56.5°E / 3.57; 56.5[54]
Apollo 16 S-IVB (S-IVB-511)
 US 1972 14002 Intentionally crashed 1°18′N 23°48′W / 1.3°N 23.8°W / 1.3; -23.8[55]
Apollo 16 LM-11 Orion descent stage
 US 1972 2765 Landed 8°58′23″S 15°30′01″E / 8.9730°S 15.5002°E / -8.9730; 15.5002[56]
Apollo 16 Lunar Rover
 US 1972 210 Landed 8°58′S 15°31′E / 8.97°S 15.51°E / -8.97; 15.51
Apollo 16 LM-11 Orion ascent stage[36]
 US 1972 2138 Crashed
(post-mission)
?[57]
Apollo 16 subsatellite
 US 1972 36 Crashed
(post-mission)
?[13][58]
Apollo 17 S-IVB (S-IVB-512)
 US 1972 13960 Intentionally crashed 4°13′S 12°19′W / 4.21°S 12.31°W / -4.21; -12.31[59]
Apollo 17 LM-12 Challenger descent stage
 US 1972 2798 Landed 20°11′27″N 30°46′18″E / 20.1908°N 30.7717°E / 20.1908; 30.7717[60]
Apollo 17 Lunar Rover
 US 1972 210 Landed 20°10′N 30°46′E / 20.17°N 30.77°E / 20.17; 30.77
Apollo 17 LM-12 Challenger ascent stage[36]
 US 1972 2150 Crashed
(post-mission)
19°58′N 30°30′E / 19.96°N 30.50°E / 19.96; 30.50[61]
Luna 21 & Lunokhod 2[62]  USSR 1973 4850 Landed 25°51′N 30°27′E / 25.85°N 30.45°E / 25.85; 30.45[63]
Explorer 49 (RAE-B)
 US 1973 328 Crashed ?[13][64]
Luna 22
 USSR 1974 4000 Crashed ?[13][65]
Luna 23  USSR 1974 5600 Landed ~12.75ºN, ~62.2ºE[66]
Luna 24 descent stage[40]  USSR 1976 < 5800 Landed 12°45′N 62°12′E / 12.75°N 62.2°E / 12.75; 62.2[67]
Hagoromo / Hiten [68]
 Japan 1990 12 Crashed
(orbit / crash
not confirmed)
?[69]
Hiten
 Japan 1993 143 Intentionally crashed 34°18′S 55°36′E / 34.3°S 55.6°E / -34.3; 55.6[70]
Lunar Prospector
 US 1998 126 Intentionally crashed 87°42′S 42°21′E / 87.7°S 42.35°E / -87.7; 42.35[71][72]
SMART-1
ESA 2006 307 Intentionally crashed 34°14′S 46°12′W / 34.24°S 46.2°W / -34.24; -46.2[73]
Moon Impact Probe (MIP) / Chandrayaan-1
 India 2008 35 Intentionally crashed 89°S 30°W / 89°S 30°W / -89; -30[74][75][76]
SELENE Rstar (Okina)  Japan 2009 53 Crashed 28°12′47″N 159°01′59″W / 28.213°N 159.033°W / 28.213; -159.033[77][78][79]
Chang'e 1
 China 2009 2000[80] Intentionally crashed 1°30′S 52°22′E / 1.50°S 52.36°E / -1.50; 52.36[81][82]
Chandrayaan-1
 India 2009 1,380 Crashed
during mission
?[83]
SELENE (Kaguya) main orbiter  Japan 2009 1984[80] Intentionally crashed 65°30′S 80°30′E / 65.5°S 80.5°E / -65.5; 80.5[84][85][86]
LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft
 US 2009 700 Intentionally crashed 84°43′44″S 49°21′36″W / 84.729°S 49.36°W / -84.729; -49.36,
-3.80909 km elevation
(Cabeus crater) [87][88]
LCROSS Centaur
 US 2009 2270 Intentionally crashed 84°40′30″S 48°43′30″W / 84.675°S 48.725°W / -84.675; -48.725,
-3.82693 km elevation
(Cabeus crater) [89][90]
GRAIL
 US 2012 132.6 Crashed
(post-mission)
75°37′N 26°38′W / 75.62°N 26.63°W / 75.62; -26.63[91]
Chang'e 3 & Yutu
 China 2013 1200 Operated 964 days. Last contact Aug 3, 2016 44°07′N 19°31′W / 44.12°N 19.51°W / 44.12; -19.51
LADEE
 US 2014 248.2 Intentionally crashed Eastern rim of Sundman V crater
Total estimated dry mass (kg) 189,344

Image gallery

Map of the Moon showing some landing sites. (Click to enlarge)
Surveyor 3 on the Moon, photographed by Alan Bean
Locations of large artificial objects on the Moon superimposed on data from the Clementine (spacecraft) mission in equirectangular projection.
Locations of retro reflector experiments
Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment (LRRR)

See also

Notes

  1. Slava G. Turyshev – From Quantum to Cosmos: Fundamental Physics Research in Space (2009) – Page 300
  2. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog – Luna 2". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  3. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog – Luna 2". Retrieved 2015-07-16.
  4. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog – Ranger 4". Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  5. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog – Ranger 6". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  6. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog – Ranger 7". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  7. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog – Luna 5". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  8. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog – Luna 7". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  9. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog – Luna 8". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  10. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Ranger 8". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  11. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Ranger 9". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  12. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 9". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Spacecraft was in lunar orbit but is assumed to have decayed from orbit and crashed into the Moon, location unknown.
  14. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 10". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  15. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 11". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  16. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 12". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  17. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Surveyor 1". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  18. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 13". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  19. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Lunar Orbiter 1". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  20. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Surveyor 2". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  21. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Lunar Orbiter 2". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  22. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Lunar Orbiter 3". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  23. Apollo 12 returned about 10 kg of the Surveyor 3's original landing mass of 302 kg to Earth to study the effects of long term exposure.
  24. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Surveyor 3". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  25. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Lunar Orbiter 4". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  26. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Surveyor 4". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  27. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Explorer 35 (IMP-E)". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  28. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Lunar Orbiter 5". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  29. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Surveyor 5". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  30. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Surveyor 6". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  31. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Surveyor 7". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  32. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 14". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  33. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 10 LM(Snoopy) descent stage". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  34. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 15". Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  35. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 11 LM descent stage". Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The ascent stage of Apollo 10 was commanded to fire its engine, left lunar orbit and entered solar orbit. The ascent stage of Apollo 11 was left in orbit and thereafter its orbit decayed and it crashed onto the Moon at an unknown location. The Apollo 16 ascent stage failed to crash onto moon when commanded and it decayed from orbit at a later date and also crashed at an unknown location. The ascent stages of the remaining successful missions (Apollo 12, 14, 15, and 17) were each deliberately crashed onto the Moon. Apollo 13's complete Apollo Lunar Module re-entered Earth's atmosphere after having served as a lifeboat during the aborted mission.
  37. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 11 LM ascent stage". Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  38. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 12 LM descent stage". Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  39. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 12 LM ascent stage". Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  40. 1 2 3 Luna program sample return mission; mass listed is for both ascent and descent stages, though only the descent stage was left on the Moon.
  41. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 16 descent stage". Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  42. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 17/Lunokhod 1". Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  43. Astronautix.com, Apollo 13: The S-IVB/IU impacted the lunar surface at 8:10 p.m. EST on April 14 at a speed of 259 meters per second (incorrect, should probably be 2590 meters/sec), […] 137.1 kilometers from the Apollo 12 seismometer.
  44. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 13 S-IVB". Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  45. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 18". Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  46. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 19". Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  47. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 14 SIVB". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  48. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 14 LM descent stage". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  49. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 14 LM ascent stage". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  50. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 15 SIVB". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  51. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 15 LM descent stage". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  52. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 15 LM ascent stage". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  53. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 15 subsatellite". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  54. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 20". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  55. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 16 S-IVB". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  56. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 16 descent stage". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  57. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 16 ascent stage". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  58. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 16 Subsatellite". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  59. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 17 S-IVB". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  60. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 17 descent stage". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  61. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Apollo 17 ascent stage". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  62. Lander and rover weighed 1814 kg; the rest assumed to have decayed in orbit and impacted the Moon.
  63. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 21/Lunokhod 2". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  64. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Explorer 49/RAE-B". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  65. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 22". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  66. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 23". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  67. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Luna 24". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  68. Was injected into lunar orbit in 1990, assumed to have decayed from orbit.
  69. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Hagoromo/Hiten Orbiter". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  70. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Hiten". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  71. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Lunar Prospector". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  72. "University of Texas Engineering News - Lunar Prospector Impact Location Estimate". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  73. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - SMART 1". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  74. MIP was crash-landed on the Shackleton crater
  75. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Moon Impact Probe / Chandrayaan 1". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  76. "Frontline India's National Magazine - Moon Mystery - Moon Impact Probe impact coordinates". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  77. "JAXA Press Release (PDF)" (PDF) (in Japanese). JAXA. 2009-02-18. Retrieved 2009-02-20.
  78. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Okina (Rstar) - Kaguya". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  79. "JAXA 18 February 2009 SELENE status - Okina (Rstar) impact estimate position - (page 3 in Japanese translated with Babelfish)" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  80. 1 2 "Upcoming International Missions to the Moon" (PPT). NASA. 2007-01-11. Retrieved 2009-04-12. / cf. 2.3t with fuel ("Spacecrafts launched in 2007". Retrieved 2009-04-12.)
  81. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Chang'e 1". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  82. "China People's Daily Online, 2 March 2009 - Chang'e-1 impacts moon (coordinates)". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  83. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - Chandrayaan 1". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  84. "JAXA HOT TOPICS". JAXA. 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  85. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - KAGUYA (SELENE)". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  86. "JAXA Selenological & Engineering Explorer - KAGUYA (SELENE) impact coordinates". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  87. "Guide to Seeing the LCROSS Lunar Impact". Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  88. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  89. "Guide to Seeing the LCROSS Lunar Impact". Retrieved 2009-10-27.
  90. "NASA NSSDC Master Catalog - LCROSS Centaur". Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  91. "NASA Probes Prepare for Mission-Ending Moon Impact". Retrieved 2012-12-13.

External links

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