Mission Summary
Surveyor 1 was America’s first successful soft landing on the Moon and a major step toward the Apollo missions. Launched on May 30, 1966, the spacecraft traveled directly to the Moon and touched down safely in Oceanus Procellarum, the Ocean of Storms, on June 2, 1966.
The mission proved that a spacecraft could make a controlled landing on the lunar surface, answering a critical question before astronauts attempted to land there. Surveyor 1 photographed the surrounding terrain, studied the properties of the lunar soil, and showed that the surface was strong enough to support future human explorers.
During its operations, Surveyor 1 transmitted more than 11,000 images back to Earth, giving scientists and engineers a close-up view of the Moon’s surface. Its success provided essential engineering knowledge for Apollo and demonstrated the landing technology needed to reach the Moon safely.
Sources and notes can be found on the Sources page.
