Lunar Orbiter Preservation Project

About the Lunar Orbiter Missions

Early black and white photo of the Moon's surface with craters.

The Lunar Orbiter Program was a series of five unmanned lunar orbiter missions launched by the United States from 1966 through 1967 to help select Apollo landing sites by mapping the Moon's surface and collecting new scientific information. All five orbiters were launched and photographed 99% of the Moon. They provided the first photographs from lunar orbit, leading to the Apollo moon landing, and the first man on the moon in July 1969.

Close-up view of the Moon with Earth partially visible behind it.

Lunar Orbiter I

Launched August 10, 1966
Imaged Moon: August 18-29, 1966
Impact with Moon: October 29, 1966
Apollo Landing site survey mission

Black and white image of a cratered moon surface.

Lunar Orbiter II

Launched November 6, 1966
Imaged Moon: November 18-25, 1966
Impact with Moon: October 11, 1967
Apollo landing site survey mission

Black and white image of a cratered lunar surface under dark sky.

Lunar Orbiter III

Launched February 5, 1967
Imaged Moon: November 15-23, 1967
Impact with Moon: October 9, 1967
Apollo landing site survey mission

Craters on the moon's surface with horizontal distortion lines.

Lunar Orbiter IV

Launched May 4, 1967
Imaged Moon: May 11-26, 1967
Impact with Moon: October 31, 1967
Lunar mapping mission

Long, thin crater chain on a cratered lunar surface.

Lunar Orbiter V

Launched August 1, 1967
Imaged Moon: August 6-18, 1967
Impact with Moon: January 31, 1968
Lunar mapping and hi-res survey mission