The Moon has been a major focal point for space exploration, and over the years, several nations have successfully achieved soft landings on its surface. As of today, five nations have made their mark in lunar history: the United States, the Soviet Union (now Russia), China, India, and Japan.
United States led the charge with the Apollo missions, landing astronauts on the Moon from 1969 to 1972. The Apollo 11 mission, in particular, saw Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin make history as the first humans to walk on the lunar surface. The U.S. continues to be a major player in space exploration.
Soviet Union (now Russia) achieved the first soft landing in 1959 with the Luna 2 mission, followed by successful robotic landings like Luna 9 in 1966. Russia’s early efforts laid the foundation for lunar exploration.
China has demonstrated remarkable success in recent years with its Chang’e program. Notable achievements include Chang’e 3, which landed on the Moon in 2013, and Chang’e 4 in 2019, the first to land on the far side of the Moon.
India made headlines in 2023 with its Chandrayaan-3 mission, successfully landing near the Moon’s south pole, becoming the fourth country to achieve a soft landing.
Japan joined this prestigious group in 2024 with the ispace mission, marking its place in lunar history.
The increasing number of countries achieving soft landings on the Moon reflects the global enthusiasm for lunar exploration and scientific discovery.
source : bbc.com
