Mission Mass (kg) Launch vehicle Launch date Goal Result Pioneer 0 38 Thor - Able 17 August 1958 Lunar orbit Failure -- first stage explosion; destroyed Pioneer 1 34 Thor - Able 11 October 1958 Lunar orbit Failure -- software error; reentry Pioneer 2 39 Thor - Able 8 November 1958 Lunar orbit Failure -- third stage misfire; reentry Pioneer 3 6 Juno 6 December 1958 Flyby Failure -- first stage misfire, reentry Pioneer 4 6 Juno 3 March 1959 Flyby Partial success -- first US craft to reach escape velocity, lunar flyby too far to shoot photos due to targeting error; solar orbit Pioneer P - 1 168 Atlas - Able 24 September 1959 Lunar orbit Failure -- pad explosion; destroyed Pioneer P - 3 168 Atlas - Able 29 November 1959 Lunar orbit Failure -- payload shroud; destroyed Pioneer P - 30 175 Atlas - Able 25 September 1960 Lunar orbit Failure -- second stage anomaly; reentry Pioneer P - 31 175 Atlas - Able 15 December 1960 Lunar orbit Failure -- first stage explosion; destroyed Ranger 1 306 Atlas -- Agena 23 August 1961 Prototype test Failure -- upper stage anomaly; reentry Ranger 2 304 Atlas -- Agena 18 November 1961 Prototype test Failure -- upper stage anomaly; reentry Ranger 3 330 Atlas -- Agena 26 January 1962 Landing Failure -- booster guidance; solar orbit Ranger 4 331 Atlas -- Agena 23 April 1962 Landing Partial success -- first U.S. spacecraft to reach another celestial body; crash impact -- no photos returned Ranger 5 342 Atlas -- Agena 18 October 1962 Landing Failure -- spacecraft power; solar orbit Ranger 6 367 Atlas -- Agena 30 January 1964 Impact Failure -- spacecraft camera; crash impact Ranger 7 367 Atlas -- Agena 28 July 1964 Impact Success -- returned 4308 photos, crash impact Ranger 8 367 Atlas -- Agena 17 February 1965 Impact Success -- returned 7137 photos, crash impact Ranger 9 367 Atlas -- Agena 21 March 1965 Impact Success -- returned 5814 photos, crash impact
when did usa first land on the moon
23 April 1962