Online Encyclopedia
List of artificial objects on the Moon
The following table is a partial list of artificial objects on the surface of the Moon. It does not include smaller objects such as the retroreflectors used in the ongoing Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment.
Man-made object | Nationality | Launched | Mass (kg) | Location |
Luna 2 | USSR | 1959 | 390.2 | 29.1° N - 0° W |
Ranger 4 | United States | 1962 | 331 | 12.9° S - 129.1° W |
Ranger 6 | United States | 1964 | 381 | 9.4° N - 21.5° E |
Ranger 7 | United States | 1964 | 365.7 | 10.6° S - 20.61° W |
Luna 5 | USSR | 1965 | 1474 | 1.6° S - 25° W |
Luna 7 | USSR | 1965 | 1504 | 9.8° N - 47.8° W |
Luna 8 | USSR | 1965 | 1550 | 9.6° N - 62° W |
Ranger 8 | United States | 1965 | 367 | 2.64° N - 24.77° E |
Ranger 9 | United States | 1965 | 367 | 12.79° S - 2.36° W |
Luna 9 | USSR | 1966 | 1580 | 7.13° N - 64.37° W |
Luna 10 (1) | USSR | 1966 | 1600 | ? |
Luna 11 (1) | USSR | 1966 | 1640 | ? |
Luna 12 (1) | USSR | 1966 | 1670 | ? |
Luna 13 | USSR | 1966 | 1700 | 18.87° N - 63.05° W |
Surveyor 1 | United States | 1966 | 270 | 2.45° S - 43.22° W |
Lunar Orbiter 1 | United States | 1966 | 386 | 6.35° N - 160.72° E |
Surveyor 2 | United States | 1966 | 292 | 4.0° S - 11.0° W |
Lunar Orbiter 2 | United States | 1966 | 385 | 2.9° N - 119.1° E |
Lunar Orbiter 3 | United States | 1966 | 386 | 14.6° N - 97.7° W |
Surveyor 3 | United States | 1967 | 281 | 2.97° S - 23.34° W |
Lunar Orbiter 4 | United States | 1967 | 386 | ? |
Surveyor 4 | United States | 1967 | 283 | 0.45° N - 1.39° W |
Explorer 35 (IMP-E) (1) | United States | 1967 | 104.3 | ? |
Lunar Orbiter 5 | United States | 1967 | 386 | 2.8° S - 83.1° W |
Surveyor 5 | United States | 1967 | 281 | 1.42° N - 23.2° E |
Surveyor 6 | United States | 1967 | 282 | 0.53° N - 1.4° W |
Surveyor 7 | United States | 1967 | 290 | 40.86° S - 11.47° W |
Luna 14 (1) | USSR | 1968 | 1670 | ? |
Luna 15 | USSR | 1969 | 2718 | ? |
Apollo 11 LM ascent stage (2) | United States | 1969 | 2184 | ? |
Apollo 11 LM descent stage | United States | 1969 | 2034 | 0° 40' 26.69" N — 23° 28' 22.69" E |
Apollo 12 LM ascent stage (2) | United States | 1969 | 2164 | 3.94° S - 21.2° W |
Apollo 12 LM descent stage | United States | 1969 | 2211 | 3° 0' 44.60" S - 23° 25' 17.65" W |
Luna 16 descent stage (3) | USSR | 1970 | < 5727 | 0.68° S - 56.3° E |
Luna 17 & Lunokhod 1 | USSR | 1970 | 5600 | 38.28° N - 35.0° W |
Apollo 13 SIVB (S-IVB-508) | United States | 1970 | 13454 | 2.75° S - 27.86° W |
Luna 18 | USSR | 1971 | 5600 | 3.57° N - 56.5° E |
Luna 19 (1) | USSR | 1971 | 5600 | ? |
Apollo 14 SIVB (S-IVB-509) | United States | 1971 | 14016 | 8.09° S - 26.02° W |
Apollo 14 LM ascent stage (2) | United States | 1971 | 2132 | 3.42° S - 29.67° W |
Apollo 14 LM descent stage | United States | 1971 | 2144 | 3° 38' 43.08" S - 17° 28' 16.90" W |
Apollo 15 SIVB (S-IVB-510) | United States | 1971 | 14036 | 1.51° S - 17.48° W |
Apollo 15 LM ascent stage (2) | United States | 1971 | 2132 | 26.36° N - 0.25° E |
Apollo 15 LM descent stage | United States | 1971 | 2809 | 26° 7' 55.99" N - 3° 38' 1.90" E |
Apollo 15 Lunar Rover | United States | 1971 | 462 | 26.08° N - 3.66° E |
Luna 20 descent stage (3) | USSR | 1972 | < 5727 | 3.53° N - 56.55° E |
Apollo 16 SIVB (S-IVB-511) | United States | 1972 | 14002 | 1.3° N - 23.9° W |
Apollo 16 LM ascent stage (2) | United States | 1972 | 2138 | ? |
Apollo 16 LM descent stage | United States | 1972 | 2765 | 8° 58' 22.84" S - 15° 30' 0.68" E |
Apollo 16 subsatellite | United States | 1972 | 36 | ? |
Apollo 16 Lunar Rover | United States | 1972 | 462 | 8.97° S - 15.51° W |
Apollo 17 SIVB (S-IVB-512) | United States | 1972 | 13960 | 4.21° S - 22.31° W |
Apollo 17 LM ascent stage (2) | United States | 1972 | 2150 | 19.96° N - 30.50° E |
Apollo 17 LM descent stage | United States | 1972 | 2798 | 20° 11' 26.88" N - 30° 46' 18.05" E |
Apollo 17 Lunar Rover | United States | 1972 | 462 | 20.17° N - 30.77° W |
Luna 21 & Lunokhod 2 (4) | USSR | 1973 | 4850 | 25.85° N - 30.45° E |
Explorer 49 (RAE-B ) (1) | United States | 1973 | 328 | ? |
Luna 22 (1) | USSR | 1974 | 4000 | ? |
Luna 23 | USSR | 1974 | 5600 | ~12° N - ~62° E |
Luna 24 descent stage (3) | USSR | 1976 | < 5800 | 12.75° N - 62.2° E |
Hiten Orbiter (Hagornoro ) (5) | Japan | 1990 | 12 | ? |
Hiten | Japan | 1993 | 143 | 34.3° S - 55.6° E |
Lunar Prospector | United States | 1998 | 126 | 87.7° S - 42.1° E |
Total estimated dry mass | 170,653 |
Notes
- Explorer 35 assumed to have decayed in orbit and crashed into the moon
- Ascent stages of Apollo Lunar Modules were put into lunar orbit temporarily and are assumed to have crashed into the moon
- Luna program sample return mission; mass listed is for both ascent and descent stages, though only the descent stage was left on the moon
- Lander and rover weighed 1814 kg; the rest assumed to have decayed in orbit and impacted the moon
- Was ejected into lunar orbiter in 1990, assumed to have decayed in orbit
See also
Last updated: 12-31-2004 12:20:44