Moon and Mars missions mark the most ambitious steps in human and robotic space exploration. From Apollo’s first steps to rovers on the Martian surface, these missions aim to uncover clues about planetary formation, water, and the potential for life.

• Apollo Program (1969–1972): Landed 12 astronauts on the Moon. Apollo 11 made history with Neil Armstrong’s first step.
• Luna Missions (USSR): First robotic sample return from the Moon in 1970.
• Chandrayaan-1 (2008): India’s first Moon mission discovered water molecules on the lunar surface.

• Artemis Program (NASA): Returning humans to the Moon, including the first woman and person of color.
• Chandrayaan-3: India’s successful soft-landing on the Moon’s south pole in 2023.
• Lunar Gateway: A planned space station orbiting the Moon, part of NASA’s Artemis architecture.

• Viking Missions (1976): First successful landers on Mars (NASA).
• Curiosity Rover (2012–): Still exploring Gale Crater and searching for signs of habitability.
• Perseverance Rover (2021–): Collecting samples for return and deploying Ingenuity helicopter.
• Tianwen-1 (China): Orbiter, lander, and rover successfully operating on Mars since 2021.

• Mars Sample Return (NASA/ESA): Aiming to bring back samples collected by Perseverance.
• Moon Bases: NASA, ESA, ISRO, and private companies plan sustainable lunar habitats by 2030.
• Manned Mars Missions: Expected in the 2030s, involving advanced life support, propulsion, and habitat systems.

Moon and Mars are not just targets of exploration—they are stepping stones for humanity’s expansion into deep space. Their success will define the next era of civilization beyond Earth.