List of man-made objects on the Moon is a partial listing of artificial materials on the Lunar surface.
It does not specifically include retroreflectors and Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package or several commemorative or 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. Mankind has left over 170,000 kg of material on the Moon, and 382 kg of the Moon was taken 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.
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.
| Artificial object | Image | Nationality | Year | Mass (kg) | Status | Location | Picture from orbit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luna 2 | USSR | 1959 | 390.2 | Intent. crashed |
29°06′N 0°00′W / 29.1°N 0°W / 29.1; -0 | ||
| Ranger 4 | United States | 1962 | 331 | Intent. crashed |
15°30′S 229°18′E / 15.5°S 229.3°E / -15.5; 229.3 | ||
| Ranger 6 | United States | 1964 | 381 | Intent. crashed |
9°21′29″N 21°28′48″E / 9.358°N 21.480°E / 9.358; 21.480 | ||
| Ranger 7 | United States | 1964 | 365.7 | Intent. crashed |
10°38′S 20°36′W / 10.63°S 20.60°W / -10.63; -20.60 | ||
| Luna 5 | USSR | 1965 | 1474 | Crashed | 8°N 23°W / 8°N 23°W / 8; -23 | ||
| Luna 7 | USSR | 1965 | 1504 | Crashed | 9°48′N 47°48′W / 9.8°N 47.8°W / 9.8; -47.8 | ||
| Luna 8 | USSR | 1965 | 1550 | Crashed | 9°06′N 63°18′W / 9.1°N 63.3°W / 9.1; -63.3 | ||
| Ranger 8 | United States | 1965 | 367 | Intent. crashed |
2°38′17″N 24°47′13″E / 2.638°N 24.787°E / 2.638; 24.787 | ||
| Ranger 9 | United States | 1965 | 367 | Intent. crashed |
12°49′41″S 2°23′13″W / 12.828°S 2.387°W / -12.828; -2.387 | ||
| Luna 9 | USSR | 1966 | 1580 | Landed | 7°05′N 64°22′W / 7.08°N 64.37°W / 7.08; -64.37 | ||
| Luna 10 | USSR | 1966 | 1600 | Crashed (post-mission) |
? | ||
| Luna 11 | USSR | 1966 | 1640 | Crashed | ? | ||
| Luna 12 | USSR | 1966 | 1670 | Crashed | ? | ||
| Luna 13 | USSR | 1966 | 1700 | Landed | 18°52′N 62°03′W / 18.87°N 62.05°W / 18.87; -62.05 | ||
| Surveyor 1 | United States | 1966 | 270 | Landed | 2°28′26″S 43°20′20″W / 2.474°S 43.339°W / -2.474; -43.339 | LROC page | |
| Lunar Orbiter 1 | United States | 1966 | 386 | Crashed (post-mission) |
6°42′N 162°00′E / 6.70°N 162°E / 6.70; 162 | ||
| Surveyor 2 | United States | 1966 | 292 | Crashed | 5°30′S 12°00′W / 5.5°S 12°W / -5.5; -12 | ||
| Lunar Orbiter 2 | United States | 1966 | 385 | Crashed (post-mission) |
3°00′N 119°00′E / 3.0°N 119°E / 3.0; 119 | ||
| Lunar Orbiter 3 | United States | 1966 | 386 | Crashed (post-mission) |
14°18′N 97°42′W / 14.3°N 97.7°W / 14.3; -97.7 | ||
| Surveyor 3 | United States | 1967 | 281 | Landed | 3°00′54″S 23°25′05″W / 3.015°S 23.418°W / -3.015; -23.418 | LROC page | |
| Lunar Orbiter 4 | United States | 1967 | 386 | Crashed (post-mission) |
? | ||
| Surveyor 4 | United States | 1967 | 283 | Crashed | 0°24′N 1°20′W / 0.4°N 1.33°W / 0.4; -1.33 | ||
| Explorer 35 (IMP-E) | United States | 1967 | 104.3 | Crashed | ? | ||
| Lunar Orbiter 5 | United States | 1967 | 386 | Crashed (post-mission) |
3°S 83°W / 3°S 83°W / -3; -83 | ||
| Surveyor 5 | United States | 1967 | 281 | Landed | 1°27′40″N 23°11′42″E / 1.461°N 23.195°E / 1.461; 23.195 | LROC page | |
| Surveyor 6 | United States | 1967 | 282 | Landed | 0°29′N 1°24′W / 0.49°N 1.40°W / 0.49; -1.40 | LROC page | |
| Surveyor 7 | United States | 1967 | 290 | Landed | 40°52′S 11°28′W / 40.86°S 11.47°W / -40.86; -11.47 | ||
| Luna 14 | USSR | 1968 | 1670 | Crashed | ? | ||
| Apollo 10 LM (Snoopy) descent stage | United States | 1969 | 2211 | Crashed | ? (post-mission) |
||
| Luna 15 | USSR | 1969 | 2718 | Crashed | ? | ||
| Apollo 11 LM-5 (Eagle) descent stage | United States | 1969 | 2034 | Landed | 0°40′27″N 23°28′23″E / 0.6741°N 23.4730°E / 0.6741; 23.4730 | LROC page
Image |
|
| Apollo 11 LM ascent stage | United States | 1969 | 2184 | Crashed (post-mission) |
? | ||
| Apollo 12 LM-6 (Intrepid) descent stage | United States | 1969 | 2211 | Landed | 3°00′45″S 23°25′18″W / 3.0124°S 23.4216°W / -3.0124; -23.4216 | LROC page
Image |
|
| Apollo 12 LM ascent stage | United States | 1969 | 2164 | Intent. crashed |
3°56′S 21°12′W / 3.94°S 21.20°W / -3.94; -21.20 | ||
| Luna 16 descent stage | USSR | 1970 | < 5727 | Landed | 0°41′S 56°18′E / 0.68°S 56.3°E / -0.68; 56.3 | ||
| Luna 17 & Lunokhod 1 | USSR | 1970 | 5600 | Landed | 38°17′N 35°00′W / 38.28°N 35.0°W / 38.28; -35.0 | ||
| Apollo 13 S-IVB (S-IVB-508) | United States | 1970 | 13454 | Intent. crashed |
2°45′S 27°52′W / 2.75°S 27.86°W / -2.75; -27.86 | ||
| Luna 18 | USSR | 1971 | 5600 | Crashed | 3°34′N 56°30′E / 3.57°N 56.5°E / 3.57; 56.5 | ||
| Luna 19 | USSR | 1971 | 5600 | Crashed | ? | ||
| Apollo 14 S-IVB (S-IVB-509) | United States | 1971 | 14016 | Intent. crashed |
8°05′S 26°01′W / 8.09°S 26.02°W / -8.09; -26.02 | LROC page
Full image |
|
| Apollo 14 LM-8 (Antares) descent stage | United States | 1971 | 2144 | Landed | 3°38′43″S 17°28′17″W / 3.6453°S 17.4714°W / -3.6453; -17.4714 | ||
| Apollo 14 LM-8 ascent stage | United States | 1971 | 2132 | Intent. crashed |
3°25′S 19°40′W / 3.42°S 19.67°W / -3.42; -19.67 | ||
| Apollo 15 S-IVB (S-IVB-510) | United States | 1971 | 14036 | Intent. crashed |
1°31′S 11°49′W / 1.51°S 11.81°W / -1.51; -11.81 | ||
| Apollo 15 LM-10 (Falcon) descent stage | United States | 1971 | 2809 | Landed | 26°07′56″N 3°38′02″E / 26.1322°N 3.6339°E / 26.1322; 3.6339 | ||
| Apollo 15 Lunar Rover | United States | 1971 | 462 | Landed | 26°05′N 3°40′E / 26.08°N 3.66°E / 26.08; 3.66 | ||
| Apollo 15 LM-10 ascent (Falcon) stage | United States | 1971 | 2132 | Intent. crashed |
26°22′N 0°15′E / 26.36°N 0.25°E / 26.36; 0.25 | ||
| Apollo 15 subsatellite | United States | 1971 | 36 | Crashed (post-mission) |
? | ||
| Luna 20 descent stage | USSR | 1972 | < 5727 | Landed | 3°34′N 56°30′E / 3.57°N 56.5°E / 3.57; 56.5 | LROC page
Image |
|
| Apollo 16 S-IVB (S-IVB-511) | United States | 1972 | 14002 | Intent. crashed |
1°18′N 23°48′W / 1.3°N 23.8°W / 1.3; -23.8 | ||
| Apollo 16 LM-11 (Orion) descent stage | United States | 1972 | 2765 | Landed | 8°58′23″S 15°30′01″E / 8.9730°S 15.5002°E / -8.9730; 15.5002 | ||
| Apollo 16 Lunar Rover | United States | 1972 | 462 | Landed | 8°58′S 15°31′E / 8.97°S 15.51°E / -8.97; 15.51 | ||
| Apollo 16 LM-11 (Orion) ascent stage | United States | 1972 | 2138 | Crashed (post-mission) |
? | ||
| Apollo 16 subsatellite | United States | 1972 | 36 | Crashed (post-mission) |
? | ||
| Apollo 17 S-IVB (S-IVB-512) | United States | 1972 | 13960 | Intent. crashed |
4°13′S 12°19′W / 4.21°S 12.31°W / -4.21; -12.31 | ||
| Apollo 17 LM-12 (Challenger) descent stage | United States | 1972 | 2798 | Landed | 20°11′27″N 30°46′18″E / 20.1908°N 30.7717°E / 20.1908; 30.7717 | LROC page
Image |
|
| Apollo 17 Lunar Rover | United States | 1972 | 462 | Landed | 20°10′N 30°46′E / 20.17°N 30.77°E / 20.17; 30.77 | ||
| Apollo 17 LM-12 (Challenger) ascent stage | United States | 1972 | 2150 | Intent. crashed |
19°58′N 30°30′E / 19.96°N 30.50°E / 19.96; 30.50 | ||
| Luna 21 & Lunokhod 2 | USSR | 1973 | 4850 | Landed | 25°51′N 30°27′E / 25.85°N 30.45°E / 25.85; 30.45 | ||
| Explorer 49 (RAE-B) | United States | 1973 | 328 | Crashed | ? | ||
| Luna 22 | USSR | 1974 | 4000 | Crashed | ? | ||
| Luna 23 | USSR | 1974 | 5600 | Landed | ~12.75ºN, ~62.2ºE | LROC page
Image |
|
| Luna 24 descent stage | USSR | 1976 | < 5800 | Landed | 12°45′N 62°12′E / 12.75°N 62.2°E / 12.75; 62.2 | LROC page
Image |
|
| Hagoromo / Hiten | Japan | 1990 | 12 | Crashed (orbit / crash not confirmed) |
? | ||
| Hiten | Japan | 1993 | 143 | Intent. crashed |
34°18′S 55°36′E / 34.3°S 55.6°E / -34.3; 55.6 | ||
| Lunar Prospector | United States | 1998 | 126 | Intent. crashed |
87°42′S 42°21′E / 87.7°S 42.35°E / -87.7; 42.35 | ||
| SMART-1 | 18 ESA nations | 2006 | 307 | Intent. crashed |
34°14′S 46°12′W / 34.24°S 46.2°W / -34.24; -46.2 | ||
| Moon Impact Probe (MIP) / Chandrayaan-1 | India | 2008 | 35 | Intent. crashed |
89°S 30°W / 89°S 30°W / -89; -30 | ||
| SELENE Rstar (Okina) | Japan | 2009 | 53 | Crashed | 28°12′47″N 200°58′01″E / 28.213°N 200.967°E / 28.213; 200.967 | ||
| Chang'e 1 | China | 2009 | 2000 | Intent. crashed |
1°30′S 52°22′E / 1.50°S 52.36°E / -1.50; 52.36 | ||
| Chandrayaan-1 | India | 2009 | 1,380 | Crashed during mission |
? | ||
| SELENE (Kaguya) main orbiter | Japan | 2009 | 1984 | Intent. crashed |
65°30′S 80°30′E / 65.5°S 80.5°E / -65.5; 80.5 | ||
| LCROSS Shepherding Spacecraft | United States | 2009 | 700 | Intent. crashed |
84°43′44″S 310°38′24″E / 84.729°S 310.64°E / -84.729; 310.64, -3.80909 km elevation (Cabeus crater) |
||
| LCROSS Centaur | United States | 2009 | 2270 | Intent. crashed |
84°40′30″S 311°16′30″E / 84.675°S 311.275°E / -84.675; 311.275, -3.82693 km elevation (Cabeus crater) |
||
| Total estimated dry mass (kg) | 178,796 | ||||||
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