List of artificial objects on the Moon

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List of artificial objects on the Moon 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 and personal objects left there by Apollo astronauts, such as the golf balls from Alan Shepard's lunar driving practice during Apollo 14, flags, Alan Bean's silver astronaut pin, or the Fallen Astronaut statuette left by the crew of Apollo 15.

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
Luna 2 Soviet moon probe.jpg
  USSR 1959 390.2 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [2]
Third stage of Luna 2 Vostok rocket
Vostok rocket drawing.png
  USSR 1959 9100 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [3]
Ranger 4
1964 71394L.jpg
  USA 1962 331 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [4]
Ranger 6
GPN-2000-001979.jpg
  USA 1964 381 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [5]
Ranger 7
GPN-2000-001979.jpg
  USA 1964 365.7 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [6]
Luna 5  USSR 1965 1474 Crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [7]
Luna 7  USSR 1965 1504 Crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [8]
Luna 8  USSR 1965 1550 Crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [9]
Ranger 8
GPN-2000-001979.jpg
  USA 1965 367 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [10]
Ranger 9
GPN-2000-001979.jpg
  USA 1965 367 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [11]
Luna 9
Luna-9-1.jpg
  USSR 1966 1580 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [12]
Luna 10
Luna-10.jpg
  USSR 1966 1600 Crashed
(post-mission)		  ? [13][14]
Luna 11
80px
  USSR 1966 1640 Crashed  ? [13][15]
Luna 12
80px
  USSR 1966 1670 Crashed  ? [13][16]
Surveyor 1
Surveyor NASA lunar lander.jpg
  USA 1966 270 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [17]
Luna 13  USSR 1966 1700 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [18]
Lunar Orbiter 1
Lunar orbiter 1 (large).jpg
  USA 1966 386 Crashed
(post-mission)		 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [19]
Surveyor 2
Surveyor NASA lunar lander.jpg
  USA 1966 292 Crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [20]
Lunar Orbiter 2
Lunar orbiter 1 (large).jpg
  USA 1966 385 Crashed
(post-mission)		 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [21]
Lunar Orbiter 3
Lunar orbiter 1 (large).jpg
  USA 1966 386 Crashed
(post-mission)		 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [22]
Surveyor 3
Surveyor 3 on the Moon.jpg
  USA 1967 281[23] Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [24]
Lunar Orbiter 4
Lunar orbiter 1 (large).jpg
  USA 1967 386 Crashed
(post-mission)		  ? [13][25]
Surveyor 4
Surveyor NASA lunar lander.jpg
  USA 1967 283 Crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [26]
Explorer 35 (IMP-E)
IMP-E.jpg
  USA 1967 104.3 Crashed
(post mission)		  ? [13][27]
Lunar Orbiter 5
Lunar orbiter 1 (large).jpg
  USA 1967 386 Crashed
(post-mission)		 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [28]
Surveyor 5
Surveyor NASA lunar lander.jpg
  USA 1967 281 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [29]
Surveyor 6
Surveyor NASA lunar lander.jpg
  USA 1967 282 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [30]
Surveyor 7
Surveyor NASA lunar lander.jpg
  USA 1967 290 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [31]
Luna 14
80px
  USSR 1968 1670 Crashed  ? [13][32]
Apollo 10 LM-4 Snoopy descent stage
LEM-linedrawing.png
  USA 1969 2211 Crashed
(post-mission)		  ? [13][33]
Luna 15
Luna-16.jpg
  USSR 1969 2718 Crashed  ? [34]
Apollo 11 LM-5 Eagle descent stage
5927 NASA.jpg
  USA 1969 2034 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [35]
Apollo 11 LM-5 Eagle ascent stage[36]
Apollo 17 LM Ascent Stage.jpg
  USA 1969 2184 Crashed
(post-mission)		  ? [37]
Apollo 12 LM-6 Intrepid descent stage
Bean Descends Intrepid - GPN-2000-001317.jpg
  USA 1969 2211 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [38]
Apollo 12 LM-6 Intrepid ascent stage[36]
Apollo 17 LM Ascent Stage.jpg
  USA 1969 2164 Crashed
(post-mission)		 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [39]
Luna 16 descent stage[40]
Luna-16.jpg
  USSR 1970 < 5727 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [41]
Luna 17 & Lunokhod 1  USSR 1970 5600 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [42]
Apollo 13 S-IVB (S-IVB-508)[43]
AS17-148-22714 crop.jpg
  USA 1970 13454 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [44]
Luna 18
Luna-16.jpg
  USSR 1971 5600 Crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. [45]
Luna 19
Luna-22.jpg
  USSR 1971 5600 Crashed  ? [13][46]
Apollo 14 S-IVB (S-IVB-509)
AS17-148-22714 crop.jpg
  USA 1971 14016 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[47]
Apollo 14 LM-8 Antares descent stage
LRO Apollo14 landing site 369228main ap14labeled 540.jpg
  USA 1971 2144 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[48]
Apollo 14 LM-8 Antares ascent stage[36]
Apollo 17 LM Ascent Stage.jpg
  USA 1971 2132 Crashed
(post-mission)		 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[49]
Apollo 15 S-IVB (S-IVB-510)
AS17-148-22714 crop.jpg
  USA 1971 14036 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[50]
Apollo 15 LM-10 Falcon descent stage
Apollo16LM.jpg
  USA 1971 2809 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[51]
Apollo 15 Lunar Rover
Apollo15LunarRover.jpg
  USA 1971 462 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Apollo 15 LM-10 Falcon ascent stage[36]
Apollo 17 LM Ascent Stage.jpg
  USA 1971 2132 Crashed
(post-mission)		 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[52]
Apollo 15 subsatellite
Apollo 15 Subsatellite.jpg
  USA 1971 36 Crashed
(post-mission)		  ?[13][53]
Luna 20 descent stage[40]
Luna-16.jpg
  USSR 1972 < 5727 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[54]
Apollo 16 S-IVB (S-IVB-511)
AS17-148-22714 crop.jpg
  USA 1972 14002 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[55]
Apollo 16 LM-11 Orion descent stage
Apollo16LM.jpg
  USA 1972 2765 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[56]
Apollo 16 Lunar Rover
Apollo15LunarRover.jpg
  USA 1972 462 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Apollo 16 LM-11 Orion ascent stage[36]
Apollo 17 LM Ascent Stage.jpg
  USA 1972 2138 Crashed
(post-mission)		  ?[57]
Apollo 16 subsatellite
Apollo 15 Subsatellite.jpg
  USA 1972 36 Crashed
(post-mission)		  ?[13][58]
Apollo 17 S-IVB (S-IVB-512)
AS17-148-22714 crop.jpg
  USA 1972 13960 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[59]
Apollo 17 LM-12 Challenger descent stage
Apollo16LM.jpg
  USA 1972 2798 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[60]
Apollo 17 Lunar Rover
Apollo15LunarRover.jpg
  USA 1972 462 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Apollo 17 LM-12 Challenger ascent stage[36]
Apollo 17 LM Ascent Stage.jpg
  USA 1972 2150 Crashed
(post-mission)		 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[61]
Luna 21 & Lunokhod 2[62]  USSR 1973 4850 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[63]
Explorer 49 (RAE-B)
RAE B.jpg
  USA 1973 328 Crashed  ?[13][64]
Luna 22
Luna-22.jpg
  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 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[67]
Hagoromo / Hiten [68]
Hiten.gif
  Japan 1990 12 Crashed
(orbit / crash
not confirmed)		  ?[69]
Hiten
Hiten.gif
  Japan 1993 143 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[70]
Lunar Prospector
80px
  USA 1998 126 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[71][72]
SMART-1
SMART-1 Impact flash.jpg
 European Union ESA 2006 307 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[73]
Moon Impact Probe (MIP) / Chandrayaan-1
Chandrayaan-1.jpg
  India 2008 35 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[74][75][76]
SELENE Rstar (Okina)  Japan 2009 53 Crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[77][78][79]
Chang'e 1
Chang e 1.jpg
  China 2009 2000[80] Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[81][82]
Chandrayaan-1
Chandrayaan-1.jpg
  India 2009 1,380 Crashed
during mission		  ?[83]
SELENE (Kaguya) main orbiter  Japan 2009 1984[80] Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[84][85][86]
LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft
LCROSS Centaur.jpg
  USA 2009 700 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.,
-3.80909 km elevation
(Cabeus crater) [87][88]
LCROSS Centaur
LCROSS Centaur 1.jpg
  USA 2009 2270 Intentionally crashed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.,
-3.82693 km elevation
(Cabeus crater) [89][90]
GRAIL
GRAIL.jpg
  USA 2012 132.6 Crashed
(post-mission)		 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[91]
Chang'e 3 & Yutu
Chang'E-3 lunar lander.jpg
  China 2013 1200 Landed Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
LADEE
LADEE fires small engines.jpg
  USA 2014 248.2 Intentionally crashed Eastern rim of Sundman V crater
Total estimated dry mass (kg) 189,344

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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 Spacecraft was in lunar orbit but is assumed to have decayed from orbit and crashed into the Moon, location unknown.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  52. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  53. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  54. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  55. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  57. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  58. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  59. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  60. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  62. ↑ Lander and rover weighed 1814 kg; the rest assumed to have decayed in orbit and impacted the Moon.
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  65. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  66. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  67. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. ↑ Was injected into lunar orbit in 1990, assumed to have decayed from orbit.
  69. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  70. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  71. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  72. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  73. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  74. ↑ MIP was crash-landed on the Shackleton crater
  75. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  76. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  77. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  78. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  79. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  80. ↑ 80.0 80.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. / cf. 2.3t with fuel (Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.)
  81. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  82. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  83. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  84. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  85. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  86. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  87. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  88. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  89. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  90. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  91. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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