List of landings on extraterrestrial bodies

This is a list of all spacecraft landings on other planets and bodies in the Solar System, including soft landings and both intended and unintended hard impacts. The list includes orbiters that were intentionally crashed, but not orbiters which later crashed in an unplanned manner due to orbital decay.

For a list of all planetary missions, including orbiters and flybys, see List of Solar System probes.

Landings

Colour key:

     – Successful soft landing with intelligible data return. The tannish hue indicates extraterrestrial soil.
     – Successful soft landing, intelligible data return, and sample return to Earth. The greenish hue indicates terrestrial return.
     – Successful soft landing, data/voice/video communication, sample return to Earth, and safe astronaut landing and return to Earth. All lunar astronaut landings have fulfilled the Kennedy challenge of a safe return to Earth.

Planets

Mercury

Mission Country/Agency Date of landing/impact Coordinates Notes
MESSENGERUnited States United States30 April 2015Probably around 54.4° N, 149.9° W, near the crater JanáčekIntentionally crashed at end of mission.

Venus

Mission Country/Agency Date of landing/impact Coordinates Notes
Venera 3Soviet Union USSR1 March 1966Probably around -20° to 20° N, 60° to 80° EFirst impact on the surface of another planet. Contact lost before atmospheric entry.
Venera 4Soviet Union USSR18 October 1967Estimated near 19°N 38°E / 19°N 38°E / 19; 38.[1] Crushed by atmospheric pressure before impact.
Venera 5Soviet Union USSR16 May 19693°S 18°E / 3°S 18°E / -3; 18Atmospheric probe; crushed by atmospheric pressure before impact.
Venera 6Soviet Union USSR17 May 19695°S 23°E / 5°S 23°E / -5; 23Atmospheric probe; crushed by atmospheric pressure before impact.
Venera 7Soviet Union USSR15 December 19705°S 351°E / 5°S 351°E / -5; 351First successful soft landing on another planet; transmitted from surface for 23 minutes.
Venera 8Soviet Union USSR22 July 1972Within 150 km radius of 10°42′S 335°15′E / 10.70°S 335.25°E / -10.70; 335.25Soft landing; transmitted from surface for 50 minutes.
Venera 9 landerSoviet Union USSR22 October 1975Within a 150 km radius of 31°01′N 291°38′E / 31.01°N 291.64°E / 31.01; 291.64Soft landing; transmitted from surface for 53 minutes. First pictures from surface.
Venera 10 landerSoviet Union USSR25 October 1975Within a 150 km radius of 15°25′N 291°31′E / 15.42°N 291.51°E / 15.42; 291.51Soft landing; transmitted from surface for 65 minutes.
Pioneer Venus MultiprobeUnited States USA9 December 1978Surviving "Day Probe" landed at
31°18′S 317°00′E / 31.3°S 317.0°E / -31.3; 317.0		One of four atmospheric probes survived impact and continued to transmit for 67 minutes.
Venera 12 landerSoviet Union USSR21 December 19787°S 294°E / 7°S 294°E / -7; 294Soft landing; transmitted from surface for 110 minutes.
Venera 11 landerSoviet Union USSR25 December 197814°S 299°E / 14°S 299°E / -14; 299Soft landing; transmitted from surface for 95 minutes.
Venera 13 landerSoviet Union USSR1 March 19827°30′S 303°00′E / 7.5°S 303°E / -7.5; 303Soft landing; transmitted from surface for 127 minutes.
Venera 14 landerSoviet Union USSR5 March 198213°15′S 310°00′E / 13.25°S 310°E / -13.25; 310Soft landing; transmitted from surface for 57 minutes.
Vega 1 landerSoviet Union USSR11 June 19857°12′N 177°48′E / 7.2°N 177.8°E / 7.2; 177.8Soft landing; some instruments failed to return data.
Vega 2 landerSoviet Union USSR15 June 19857°08′S 177°40′E / 7.14°S 177.67°E / -7.14; 177.67Soft landing; transmitted from surface for 57 minutes.

Mars

Mission Country/Agency Date of landing/impact Coordinates Notes
Mars 2 landerSoviet Union USSR27 November 197145°S 30°W / 45°S 30°W / -45; -30First man-made object on Mars. No contact after crash landing.
Mars 3 landerSoviet Union USSR2 December 197145°S 158°W / 45°S 158°W / -45; -158First soft landing on Mars. An attempt to receive clear images from surface failed.[2] Sent signal for only 20 seconds after landing.
Mars 6 landerSoviet Union USSR12 March 197423°54′S 19°25′W / 23.90°S 19.42°W / -23.90; -19.42Contact lost at landing.
Viking 1 landerUnited States USA20 July 197622°41′49″N 48°13′19″W / 22.697°N 48.222°W / 22.697; -48.222Successful soft landing.
Viking 2 landerUnited States USA3 September 197648°16′08″N 134°00′36″E / 48.269°N 134.010°E / 48.269; 134.010Successful soft landing.
Mars Pathfinder and Sojourner roverUnited States USA4 July 199719°08′N 33°13′W / 19.13°N 33.22°W / 19.13; -33.22First airbag landing on Mars and first Mars rover.
Mars Polar Lander and two penetrators Deep Space 2United States USA3 December 1999

73°N 210°W / 73°N 210°W / 73; -210

 Contact lost prior to landing.
Beagle 2United Kingdom UK/
ESA		25 December 200311°31′35″N 90°25′46″E / 11.5265°N 90.4295°E / 11.5265; 90.4295Successful soft landing. No contact due to solar "petals" not deploying fully, blocking antenna.[3]
MER-A 'Spirit'United States USA3 January 200414°34′18″S 175°28′43″E / 14.5718°S 175.4785°E / -14.5718; 175.4785Mars rover. Contact lost 22 March 2010.
MER-B 'Opportunity'United States USA25 January 20041°56′46″S 5°31′36″W / 1.9462°S 5.5266°W / -1.9462; -5.5266Mars rover.
PhoenixUnited States USA25 May 200868°13′08″N 125°44′57″W / 68.2188°N 125.7492°W / 68.2188; -125.7492Landed in the north polar region, and investigated whether conditions there are suitable for life to have evolved.
Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity)United States USA6 August 20124°35′22″S 137°26′30″E / 4.5895°S 137.4417°E / -4.5895; 137.4417Mars Rover. Landed in Gale Crater.
ExoMars Schiaparelli EDM lander ESA
Russia RFSA		19 October 20162°04′S 353°47′E / 2.07°S 353.79°E / -2.07; 353.79Contact lost after entry and parachute deployment, but before planned landing. Hard impact on the surface.[4]

Jupiter

Mission Country/Agency Date of landing/impact Notes
Galileo atmospheric probeUnited States USA7 December 1995Atmospheric probe of Jupiter. [Not a "landing," but an intentional impact with a planetary body.]
GalileoUnited States USA21 September 2003Main craft was intentionally directed at Jupiter and disintegrated in Jovian atmosphere. [Not a "landing," but an intentional impact with a planetary body.]

Saturn

Mission Country/ Agency Date of landing/impact Notes
Cassini orbiterUnited States USA15 September 2017Main craft was intentionally directed at Saturn and disintegrated in Saturn's atmosphere [Not a "landing," but an intentional impact with a planetary body.]

Planetary moons

Moon

Mission Country/Agency Date of landing/impact Coordinates Notes
Luna 2Soviet Union USSR13 September 195929°06′N 0°00′E / 29.1°N -0°E / 29.1; -0Intentional hard impact.
Ranger 4United States USA26 April 196215°30′S 130°42′W / 15.5°S 130.7°W / -15.5; -130.7Intentional hard impact; hit lunar far side due to failure of navigation system.
Ranger 6United States USA2 February 19649°24′N 21°30′E / 9.4°N 21.5°E / 9.4; 21.5Intentional hard impact.
Ranger 7United States USA31 July 196410°21′S 20°35′W / 10.35°S 20.58°W / -10.35; -20.58Intentional hard impact.
Ranger 8United States USA20 February 19652°43′N 24°37′E / 2.72°N 24.61°E / 2.72; 24.61Intentional hard impact.
Ranger 9United States USA24 March 196512°50′S 2°22′W / 12.83°S 2.37°W / -12.83; -2.37Intentional hard impact.
Luna 5Soviet Union USSR12 May 196531°S 8°W / 31°S 8°W / -31; -8Unsuccessful attempt at soft landing; crashed into Moon.
Luna 7Soviet Union USSR7 October 19659°48′N 47°48′W / 9.8°N 47.8°W / 9.8; -47.8Unsuccessful attempt at soft landing; crashed into Moon.
Luna 8Soviet Union USSR6 December 19659°36′N 62°00′W / 9.6°N 62°W / 9.6; -62Unsuccessful attempt at soft landing; crashed into Moon.
Luna 9Soviet Union USSR3 February 19667°08′N 64°22′W / 7.13°N 64.37°W / 7.13; -64.37First successful soft landing; first pictures from the surface.
Surveyor 1United States USA2 June 19662°28′S 43°20′W / 2.47°S 43.33°W / -2.47; -43.33Soft landing.
Surveyor 2United States USA23 September 1966Unsuccessful attempt at soft landing; crashed into Moon.
Lunar Orbiter 1United States USA29 October 1966Lunar orbiter, intentionally crashed at end of mission.
Luna 13Soviet Union USSR24 December 196618°52′N 62°3′W / 18.867°N 62.050°W / 18.867; -62.050Soft landing.
Surveyor 3United States USA20 April 19673°01′41″S 23°27′30″W / 3.028175°S 23.458208°W / -3.028175; -23.458208Soft landing. First lander visited by a later manned mission (Apollo 12).
Surveyor 4United States USA17 July 1967Contact lost on descent.
Surveyor 5United States USA11 September 19671°28′N 23°12′E / 1.46°N 23.20°E / 1.46; 23.20Soft landing.
Surveyor 6United States USA10 November 19670°29′N 1°24′W / 0.49°N 1.40°W / 0.49; -1.40Soft landing.
Surveyor 7United States USA10 January 196840°52′S 11°28′W / 40.86°S 11.47°W / -40.86; -11.47Soft landing.
Apollo 11United States USA20 July 19690°40′26.69″N 23°28′22.69″E / 0.6740806°N 23.4729694°E / 0.6740806; 23.4729694First manned landing on extraterrestrial bodies.
Luna 15Soviet Union USSR21 July 1969Possible attempted sample return; crashed into Moon.

Not a manned mission.

Apollo 12United States USA18 November 19693°00′45″S 23°25′18″W / 3.012389°S 23.421569°W / -3.012389; -23.421569Manned mission.
Apollo 13United States USA14 April 1970S-IVB stage crashed for seismic research (rocket stages from some other Apollo missions that successfully landed were also crashed in this manner[5])
Luna 16Soviet Union USSR20 September 19700°41′S 56°18′E / 0.683°S 56.300°E / -0.683; 56.300First successful robotic sample return.
Luna 17/Lunokhod 1Soviet Union USSR17 November 197038°17′N 35°0′W / 38.283°N 35.000°W / 38.283; -35.000Robotic lunar rover.
Apollo 14United States USA5 February 19713°38′43.08″S 17°28′16.90″W / 3.6453000°S 17.4713611°W / -3.6453000; -17.4713611Manned mission.
Apollo 15United States USA30 July 197126°7′55.99″N 3°38′1.90″E / 26.1322194°N 3.6338611°E / 26.1322194; 3.6338611 (Apollo 15 landing)Manned mission; lunar rover.
Luna 18Soviet Union USSR11 September 1971Failed attempt at sample return; probable crash-landing.
Luna 20Soviet Union USSR21 February 19723°32′N 56°33′E / 3.533°N 56.550°E / 3.533; 56.550Robotic sample return.
Apollo 16United States USA21 April 19728°58′22.84″S 15°30′0.68″E / 8.9730111°S 15.5001889°E / -8.9730111; 15.5001889Manned mission; lunar rover.
Apollo 17United States USA7 December 197220°11′26.88″N 30°46′18.05″E / 20.1908000°N 30.7716806°E / 20.1908000; 30.7716806 (Apollo 17 landing)Manned mission; lunar rover. Last manned landing on extraterrestrial bodies to date.
Luna 21/Lunokhod 2Soviet Union USSR8 January 197325°51′N 30°27′E / 25.850°N 30.450°E / 25.850; 30.450Robotic lunar rover.
Luna 23Soviet Union USSR6 November 1974Failed attempt at sample return; damaged on landing.
Luna 24Soviet Union USSR18 August 197612°45′N 62°12′E / 12.750°N 62.200°E / 12.750; 62.200Robotic sample return.
HitenJapan Japan10 April 1993Lunar orbiter, intentionally crashed at end of mission.
Lunar ProspectorUnited States USA31 July 199987°42′S 42°06′E / 87.7°S 42.1°E / -87.7; 42.1Lunar orbiter, intentionally crashed into polar crater at end of mission to test for liberation of water vapour (not detected).
SMART-1 ESA3 September 2006Lunar orbiter, intentionally crashed at end of mission.
Chandrayaan-1 Moon Impact ProbeIndia ISRO14 November 2008Impactor. Water found.
SELENE Rstar (Okina) Japan12 February 2009 Lunar orbiter, intentionally crashed at end of mission.
Chang'e 1 China1 March 2009Lunar orbiter, intentionally crashed at end of mission.
Kaguya Japan10 June 2009Lunar orbiter, intentionally crashed at end of mission.
LCROSS (Centaur)  USA 9 October 2009 84°40′30″S 48°43′30″W / 84.675°S 48.725°W / -84.675; -48.725
84°43′44″S 49°21′36″W / 84.729°S 49.360°W / -84.729; -49.360		 Impactors. Water confirmed.
LCROSS (Shepherding Spacecraft)
Chang'e 3 China14 December 201344°07′N 19°31′W / 44.12°N 19.51°W / 44.12; -19.51First soft landing on moon since 1976, lunar rover.

Moons of Mars

Phobos
Mission Country/Agency Date of landing/impact Coordinates Notes
Phobos 2 Soviet Union USSR February 1989 (planned) Phobos landing was planned but never attempted due to loss of contact

Moons of Saturn

Titan
Mission Country/Agency Date of landing/impact Coordinates Notes
Huygens probe ESA14 January 200510°17′37″S 163°10′39″E / 10.2936°S 163.1775°E / -10.2936; 163.1775Titan floating lander. Successful soft landing. Transmitted data for 90 minutes following landing.

Other bodies

Asteroids, comets, other natural satellites, other bodies

Asteroids

Body Mission Country/Agency Date of landing/impact Coordinates Notes
Eros (asteroid)NEAR ShoemakerUnited States USA12 February 2001Designed as an orbiter, but an improvised landing was carried out on completion of the main mission. Transmission from the surface continued for about 16 days.
Itokawa (asteroid)HayabusaJapan Japan19 November 2005Accidentally stayed for 30 min.
25 November 2005 Stayed for 1 sec. Sample return (very small amount of dust successfully returned to Earth).
Ryugu (asteroid)Hayabusa2Japan Japan21 September 2018Two of four rovers carried by Hayabusa2, Rover 1A and Rover 1B, deployed successfully . Future missions are planned to deploy the remaining two rovers.

Comets

Body Mission Country/Agency Date of landing/impact Coordinates Notes
Comet 9P/Tempel 1Deep ImpactUnited States USA4 July 2005Impactor.
Comet 67P/Churyumov–GerasimenkoRosetta ESA 12 November 2014Philae lander. Successful soft landing, but anchors misfired and Philae bounced multiple times before coming to rest. Philae transmitted briefly but could not maintain power due to its awkward landing.
29 September 2016The Rosetta orbiter was intentionally crashed into the comet.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Brian Harvey (2007). Russian planetary exploration. Springer. pp. 98–101. ISBN 0-387-46343-7.
  2. ↑ "Mars 3". Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  3. ↑ "Lost Beagle2 probe found 'intact' on Mars", BBC News, 16th January 2015
  4. ↑ "Schiaparelli crash site in colour". European Space Agency. 3 November 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "The Sky is Falling" Archived 2010-04-02 at the Wayback Machine., NASA, April 28, 2006
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