Exploration of the Moon
Since 1959, there have been 52 missions to the lunar surface or to cis lunar space, of which 48 were at least a partial success in terms of mission objectives and data return. On 31 January 1966, the Russian Luna 9 spacecraft made the first soft landing of a spacecraft on the Moon. Since that time, substantial in-situ analysis of the lunar surface has been made. The bulk of lunar rock samples that were returned to Earth were from the Apollo manned missions. Recent missions have indicated the possible presence of water (hydrogen concentrations) - an unexpected resource that will substantially increase the opportunity for the permanent return of humans to the Moon.
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