The Luna 1 mission in 1959 was intended to impact the surface, but missed by about 6,000 km.

The Russian Luna 24 mission discovered a molybdenum-bearing grain (1 x 0.6 m) in a pyroxene fragment taken from Mare Crisium on the Moon.

The first human-made object to reach the surface of the Moon was the Soviet Union's Luna 2 mission, on 13 September 1959.

In 1959, the Luna 2 mission successfully impacted upon the lunar surface, becoming the first man-made object to reach the Moon.

The Luna missions were the first space-exploration sample return missions to rely solely on advanced robotics.

The Luna 6 mission proceeded as planned until a scheduled mid-course correction late on 9 June.

Astronomer Richard Miles believes 2010 KQ may be the 4th stage of the Russian Proton rocket from the Luna 23 mission, launched October 28, 1974.

Not a trace of water had been discovered by the Surveyor, Apollo, and Luna missions.

Three seed-sized pieces of lunar rock collected by the Luna 16 mission were sold at auction by Sotheby's in 1993 for $442,500.

It will be China's first lunar rover, and the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on the Moon since the Soviet Luna 24 mission in 1976.