List of current and future lunar missions
Encyclopedia
Currently, there are several future lunar missions
Exploration of the Moon
The physical exploration of the Moon began when Luna 2, a space probe launched by the Soviet Union, made an impact on the surface of the Moon on September 14, 1959. Prior to that the only available means of exploration had been observation. The invention of the optical telescope brought about the...

scheduled or proposed by various nations or organisations.

Recent impacts

– Within a year – Earlier
Country Name Launch date Landing date Area Mission type
 India MIP
Moon Impact Probe
The Moon Impact Probe developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation , India's national space agency, was a lunar probe that was released by ISRO's Chandrayaan-1 lunar remote sensing orbiter which in turn was launched, on 22 October 2008, aboard a modified version of ISRO's Polar Satellite...

October 22, 2008 November 14, 2008 LQ30 Impactor
 Japan Okina (RSAT) September 14, 2007 February 12, 2009 LQ08 Orbiter (crashed at mission end)
 Mainland China Chang'e 1 October 24, 2007 March 1, 2009 LQ21 Orbiter (systematically crashed at mission end)http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iZBB3YlRbLgxnFO4CJ0cYG-IQ5qwD96L5NJ82
 Japan Kaguya
SELENE
SELENE , better known in Japan by its nickname after the legendary Japanese moon princess, was the second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft. Produced by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and the National Space Development Agency , both now part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration...

September 14, 2007 June 10, 2009 LQ30 Orbiter (systematically crashed at mission end)
 United States LCROSS
LCROSS
The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite was a robotic spacecraft operated by NASA. The mission was conceived as a low-cost means of determining the nature of hydrogen detected at the polar regions of the moon. The main LCROSS mission objective was to explore the presence of water ice...

June 18, 2009 October 9, 2009 LQ30 Impactor (Centaur)
Impactor (Shepherding Spacecraft)

In flight

– En route – Under extended mission – Lunar mission complete
Country Name Launch date Mission lifetime
 Japan Ouna (VSAT) September 14, 2007 1 year (mission complete at 29 June 2009)
 India Chandrayaan-1 October 22, 2008 2 years intended (Achieved only 315 days - Mission abruptly terminated due to malfunction and lost contact)
 United States Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter
The Lunar Precursor Robotic Program is a program of robotic spacecraft missions which NASA will use to prepare for future human spaceflight missions to the Moon. Two LPRP missions, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite , were launched in June 2009...

June 19, 2009 1 year (extended mission of up to 5 years)
 United States ARTEMIS February 17, 2007 until 2012
 Mainland China Chang'e 2
Chang'e 2
Chang'e 2 is a Chinese unmanned lunar probe that was launched on 1 October 2010. It was a follow-up to the Chang'e 1 lunar probe, which was launched in 2007. Chang'e 2 was part of the first phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, and conducted research from a 100-kilometer-high lunar orbit...

October 1, 2010 6 months, Orbiting Sun-Earth L2 after Aug 2011
 United States GRAIL
Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory is an American lunar science mission in NASA's Discovery Program, which will use high-quality gravitational field mapping of the Moon to determine its interior structure...

September 10, 2011 three to four month travel time. 90 days science phase.

Under development

Country Name Launch due
 Mainland China Chang'e 3
Chang'e 3
Chang'e 3 is a Chinese lunar exploration mission, incorporating a robotic lander and rover. Scheduled for launch in 2013 as part of the second phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, it will be China's first lunar rover, and the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on the Moon since the...

2013
 United States LADEE
Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer
The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer is a space exploration mission scheduled for launch in early 2013. To carry out the mission NASA will send a robotic spacecraft into orbit around the Moon, and use instruments aboard the spacecraft to study the Moon's atmosphere and dust in the...

January 15, 2013
(Private
Private spaceflight
Private spaceflight is flight above Earth altitude conducted by and paid for by an entity other than a government. In the early decades of the Space Age, the government space agencies of the Soviet Union and United States pioneered space technology augmented by collaboration with affiliated design...

)
GLXP
Google Lunar X Prize
The Google Lunar X PRIZE, abbreviated GLXP, sometimes referred to as Moon 2.0, is a space competition organized by the X Prize Foundation, and sponsored by Google. It was announced at the Wired Nextfest on 13 September 2007...

 Moon Express
Moon Express
Moon Express, or MoonEx, is a privately held seed-stage company formed by a group of Silicon Valley and space entrepreneurs, with the goal of winning the Google Lunar X Prize, and ultimately mining the Moon for resources of economic value.-History:...

2013
 India Chandrayaan-2
Chandrayaan-2
Chandrayaan-2 , is a joint lunar exploration mission proposed by the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Russian Federal Space Agency and has a projected cost of...

2014
 Russia Luna-Glob 2 / Luna-Resurs
Luna-Glob
Luna-Glob is the name of a Moon-exploration program by the Russian Federal Space Agency based on plans dating back to 1997. Due to financial problems, however, the project was put on hold only to be revived a few years later. Initially scheduled for launch in 2012, the mission has been brought...

2014
 Russia Luna-Glob 1
Luna-Glob
Luna-Glob is the name of a Moon-exploration program by the Russian Federal Space Agency based on plans dating back to 1997. Due to financial problems, however, the project was put on hold only to be revived a few years later. Initially scheduled for launch in 2012, the mission has been brought...

2015
 United States ILN Node 1
International Lunar Network
The International Lunar Network or ILN is a proposed network of a series of landed stations of the United States and the other space-faring countries on the lunar surface in the 2010s. Each of these stations will act as a node in a lunar geophysical network. Ultimately this network could comprise...

2018
 United States ILN Node 2
International Lunar Network
The International Lunar Network or ILN is a proposed network of a series of landed stations of the United States and the other space-faring countries on the lunar surface in the 2010s. Each of these stations will act as a node in a lunar geophysical network. Ultimately this network could comprise...

2018 ?

Proposed unmanned missions

Country Name Launch due
MoonLITE
MoonLITE
The Moon Lightweight Interior and Telecoms Experiment , is a proposed British space mission to explore the Moon and develop techniques for future space exploration. If funded, it will be built by a consortium of UK industry likely including Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, and it is planned to be...

2014
MoonRaker
Moonraker
Moonraker is the third novel by British author Ian Fleming featuring the fictional British Secret Service agent Commander James Bond. The book was first published by Jonathan Cape on 5 April 1955, bearing a cover based on Fleming's own concept...

2014
 Russia Luna-Grunt 1
Luna-Glob
Luna-Glob is the name of a Moon-exploration program by the Russian Federal Space Agency based on plans dating back to 1997. Due to financial problems, however, the project was put on hold only to be revived a few years later. Initially scheduled for launch in 2012, the mission has been brought...

2014
Luna-Grunt 2
Luna-Glob
Luna-Glob is the name of a Moon-exploration program by the Russian Federal Space Agency based on plans dating back to 1997. Due to financial problems, however, the project was put on hold only to be revived a few years later. Initially scheduled for launch in 2012, the mission has been brought...

2015
 India Chandrayaan-3
Indian Space Research Organisation
The Indian Space Research Organisation is an independent Indian governmental agency established in 1969 for the research and development of vehicles and activities for the exploration of space within and outside of Earth’s atmosphere. Headquartered in Bangalore...

2015
(Private
Private spaceflight
Private spaceflight is flight above Earth altitude conducted by and paid for by an entity other than a government. In the early decades of the Space Age, the government space agencies of the Soviet Union and United States pioneered space technology augmented by collaboration with affiliated design...

)
Google Lunar X Prize
Google Lunar X Prize
The Google Lunar X PRIZE, abbreviated GLXP, sometimes referred to as Moon 2.0, is a space competition organized by the X Prize Foundation, and sponsored by Google. It was announced at the Wired Nextfest on 13 September 2007...

Before 2015
(Private
Private spaceflight
Private spaceflight is flight above Earth altitude conducted by and paid for by an entity other than a government. In the early decades of the Space Age, the government space agencies of the Soviet Union and United States pioneered space technology augmented by collaboration with affiliated design...

)
Astrobotic Technology
Astrobotic Technology
Astrobotic Technology is a privately held seed-stage company formed by Carnegie Mellon professor Red Whittaker and his associates, with the goal of winning the Google Lunar X Prize...

 Polar Excavator
2015
(Private
Private spaceflight
Private spaceflight is flight above Earth altitude conducted by and paid for by an entity other than a government. In the early decades of the Space Age, the government space agencies of the Soviet Union and United States pioneered space technology augmented by collaboration with affiliated design...

)
Astrobotic Technology
Astrobotic Technology
Astrobotic Technology is a privately held seed-stage company formed by Carnegie Mellon professor Red Whittaker and his associates, with the goal of winning the Google Lunar X Prize...

 (yet to be named)
2016
 United States ILN Node 3
International Lunar Network
The International Lunar Network or ILN is a proposed network of a series of landed stations of the United States and the other space-faring countries on the lunar surface in the 2010s. Each of these stations will act as a node in a lunar geophysical network. Ultimately this network could comprise...

2016
 Japan SELENE-2
Selene-2
SELENE-2 , or the Selenological and Engineering Explorer 2, is a proposed Japanese moon lander to be launched sometime before the middle of the decade as a successor to the 2007 Kaguya moon orbiter.- Penetrators :...

No earlier than 2016
 United States ILN Node 4
International Lunar Network
The International Lunar Network or ILN is a proposed network of a series of landed stations of the United States and the other space-faring countries on the lunar surface in the 2010s. Each of these stations will act as a node in a lunar geophysical network. Ultimately this network could comprise...

2017
 Mainland China Chang'e 4
Chinese Lunar Exploration Program
Chinese Lunar Exploration Program , also known as the Chang'e program, is a program of robotic and human missions to the Moon undertaken by the China National Space Administration , the space agency of the People's Republic of China...

2017
 Europe MoonNext
MoonNext
The MoonNext Mission, also known as the ESA Lunar Lander, is a proposal by the European Space Agency to send a high capacity cargo lander to the lunar surface using a full Ariane 5 rocket. The mission would be launched from Kourou in 2018 taking a few days to transfer from Earth to a Low Circular...

2015–2018
 Russia Luniy-Poligon
Luna-Glob
Luna-Glob is the name of a Moon-exploration program by the Russian Federal Space Agency based on plans dating back to 1997. Due to financial problems, however, the project was put on hold only to be revived a few years later. Initially scheduled for launch in 2012, the mission has been brought...

2020
 South Korea Moon Orbiter 2020
Moon Lander 2025

Proposed manned missions

Country Name Nature of proposed mission
(Private
Private spaceflight
Private spaceflight is flight above Earth altitude conducted by and paid for by an entity other than a government. In the early decades of the Space Age, the government space agencies of the Soviet Union and United States pioneered space technology augmented by collaboration with affiliated design...

)
DSE-Alpha
DSE-Alpha
Deep Space Expedition Alpha , is the name given to the mission proposed in 2005 to take the first space tourists to fly around the Moon. The mission is organized by Space Adventures Ltd., a commercial spaceflight company...

2015 Mission to transport the first space tourists
Space tourism
Space Tourism is space travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. A number of startup companies have sprung up in recent years, hoping to create a space tourism industry...

 to fly around the Moon using Soyuz; proposed by Space Adventures
Space Adventures
Space Adventures, Ltd. is a Virginia, USA-based space tourism company founded in 1998 by Eric C. Anderson. , offerings include zero-gravity atmospheric flights, orbital spaceflights , and other spaceflight-related experiences including cosmonaut training, spacewalk training, and launch tours...

 (2005).
 India 2020 Manned moon landing; proposed by ISRO
Indian Space Research Organisation
The Indian Space Research Organisation is an independent Indian governmental agency established in 1969 for the research and development of vehicles and activities for the exploration of space within and outside of Earth’s atmosphere. Headquartered in Bangalore...

 (2009).
 Japan 2020 Manned moon landing; proposed by JAXA
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
The , or JAXA, is Japan's national aerospace agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on October 1, 2003, as an Independent Administrative Institution administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the...

 (2006).
Aurora programme
Aurora Programme
The Aurora programme is a human spaceflight programme of the European Space Agency established in 2001 with the primary objectives of creating, and then implementing, a European long-term plan for exploration of the Solar System using robotic spacecraft and human spaceflight...

2024 Manned moon landing; proposed by ESA
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...

.
 Mainland China CLEP
Chinese Lunar Exploration Program
Chinese Lunar Exploration Program , also known as the Chang'e program, is a program of robotic and human missions to the Moon undertaken by the China National Space Administration , the space agency of the People's Republic of China...

~2025 Manned moon landing; suggested by various scientists.
 Iran 2025 Manned moon landing; proposed by ISA
Iranian Space Agency
The Iranian Space Agency is Iran's governmental space agency. Iran is an active participant in the Asian space race and became an orbital-launch-capable nation in 2009...

 (2010).
2025 Manned moon landing; proposed by RFSA
Russian Federal Space Agency
The Russian Federal Space Agency , commonly called Roscosmos and abbreviated as FKA and RKA , is the government agency responsible for the Russian space science program and general aerospace research. It was previously the Russian Aviation and Space Agency .Headquarters of Roscosmos are located...

 (2007).
2027–32 Moonbase; proposed by RFSA (2007).
 Japan 2030 Moonbase; proposed by JAXA (2006).


NB. Launch dates are aspirational and may change drastically as the planning and preparation progresses.

Cancelled or indefinitely postponed

Country Name Launch due
 Japan LUNAR-A
LUNAR-A
LUNAR-A is a cancelled Japanese spacecraft project that was originally scheduled to be launched in August 2004. After many delays LUNAR-A is a cancelled Japanese spacecraft project that was originally scheduled to be launched in August 2004. After many delays LUNAR-A is a cancelled Japanese...

August 2004 Integrated into Russia's Luna-Glob 1
Luna-Glob
Luna-Glob is the name of a Moon-exploration program by the Russian Federal Space Agency based on plans dating back to 1997. Due to financial problems, however, the project was put on hold only to be revived a few years later. Initially scheduled for launch in 2012, the mission has been brought...

 mission
 Germany LEO
LEO (spacecraft)
LEO is the name of a proposed German mission to the Moon, announced by the German Aerospace Center Director Walter Doellinger on March 2, 2007. Because the needed money for the year 2009 was diverted elsewhere, the start of the project was delayed indefinitely...

2012 Mission postponed indefinitely due to budgetary constraints
 United States Constellation Program 2020 Mission cancelled by Congress
 United States MoonRise
MoonRise
The MoonRise mission focuses on the giant South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon between the Moon's South Pole and Aitken Crater, 16° south of the Moon's equator. This basin measures nearly in diameter and in depth...

2018 Not funded by NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...

 in 2011 funding competition

See also

  • Exploration of the Moon
    Exploration of the Moon
    The physical exploration of the Moon began when Luna 2, a space probe launched by the Soviet Union, made an impact on the surface of the Moon on September 14, 1959. Prior to that the only available means of exploration had been observation. The invention of the optical telescope brought about the...

  • Robotic exploration of the Moon
    Robotic exploration of the Moon
    -Pioneer program:*Pioneer 0 – failure – orbiter*Pioneer 1 – failure – orbiter*Pioneer 2 – failure – orbiter*Pioneer 3 – failure – flyby...

  • Apollo program
  • Timeline of Solar System exploration
    Timeline of solar system exploration
    This is a timeline of Solar System exploration ordered by date of spacecraft launch. It includes:*All spacecraft that have left Earth orbit for the purposes of Solar System exploration , including lunar probes....

  • List of lunar probes
  • Google Lunar X Prize
    Google Lunar X Prize
    The Google Lunar X PRIZE, abbreviated GLXP, sometimes referred to as Moon 2.0, is a space competition organized by the X Prize Foundation, and sponsored by Google. It was announced at the Wired Nextfest on 13 September 2007...

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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