Here's a look back at notable successful and unsuccessful attempts at landing on Earth's cosmic companion
A NASA picture taken by US crew commander Eugene A. Cernan, on December 13, 1972 shows astronaut and geologist Harrison H. Schmitt seated in the Lunar Roving Vehicle.
Image: Eugene A. Cernan / NASA / AFP©
A spaceship built by a company in Texas is poised for lunar touchdown on Thursday, returning America to the Moon after more than five decades in what promises to be a historic first for the private sector.
Here's a look back at notable attempts—both successful and unsuccessful—at landing on Earth's cosmic companion.
On February 3, 1966 it added to this impressive list the first soft touchdown on lunar soil with its Luna 9 probe, which used retrograde thrusters and inflatable airbags to cushion its landing.
Equipped with a radiation detector and panoramic camera, Luna 9 sent the first images back from the Moon's surface.