Honestly, if you asked a random person on the street "which countries have been to the moon," they’d probably say the US and Russia and then just stop. Maybe they'd mention China if they follow the news. But the real answer is way more crowded than that. As of early 2026, the moon isn't some lonely, desolate rock anymore. It’s basically becoming a high-stakes parking lot for global superpowers and even a few private companies.
When we talk about "being" to the moon, we have to be specific. Are we talking about landing? Crashing? Or just flying by and waving? There is a massive difference between slamming a probe into the lunar dust at 4,000 miles per hour and gently setting down a multi-million dollar rover.
The Elite Five: The Soft Landing Club
Only five nations have ever pulled off a "soft landing." That’s the gold standard. It means the spacecraft didn't just hit the moon; it landed intact and functioned afterward.
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The United States and the Soviet Union did it first back in the 60s. For a long time, it was just them. Then China joined the party in 2013 with Chang’e 3. China has been on a tear lately, even landing on the "dark" far side of the moon—something nobody else had ever done.
Then things got interesting in 2023. India made history with Chandrayaan-3. They didn't just land; they landed near the lunar South Pole. It’s a rugged, shadow-filled area where everyone thinks there’s ice. If you have ice, you have water. If you have water, you have oxygen and rocket fuel. That’s why India's win was such a big deal.
Most recently, Japan squeezed into the club in early 2024. Their SLIM lander (the "Moon Sniper") had a bit of a rough time—it actually landed upside down—but it was still a successful soft landing. It proved they could land with pinpoint accuracy, which is basically like trying to hit a penny with a dart from a mile away.
Wait, What About Everyone Else?
If we're just talking about "reaching" the moon (orbiting or crashing), the list gets way longer. You’ve got Japan, the European Space Agency (ESA), Israel, the UAE, South Korea, and even Luxembourg.
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Even Pakistan joined the orbital club recently with a CubeSat.
The reality is that "which countries have been to the moon" is a moving target. In 2024, a private American company called Intuitive Machines landed a craft named Odysseus. It was the first time a private company—not a government—successfully soft-landed on the lunar surface. That changed the game forever. It's not just a "country" thing anymore; it's a "who has the budget" thing.
The Modern Moon Race in 2026
Right now, as you read this in January 2026, the vibe has shifted from "exploration" to "settlement." We aren't just going there to take pictures of footprints.
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NASA is currently on the verge of launching Artemis II. The rocket is literally sitting on the pad at Kennedy Space Center as of this week. This mission is huge. It’s going to carry four astronauts—three Americans and one Canadian—around the moon. They aren't landing yet (that's Artemis III, hopefully later this year or in 2027), but it’s the first time humans will have been that far from Earth since 1972.
China isn't sitting still either. Their Chang’e 6 mission already brought back samples from the far side of the moon in 2024. They’re basically building the foundation for a permanent base.
Why Does It Matter Who Gets There First?
It's about resources. Plain and simple. The moon's South Pole is the "real estate" everyone wants.
- Water Ice: Found in permanently shadowed craters. It’s the "gold" of the space age.
- Helium-3: A potential fuel for future fusion reactors that could provide clean energy for centuries.
- Strategic Positioning: If you control the moon, you control the gateway to the rest of the solar system.
Russia tried to get back into the game with Luna 25 in 2023, but it ended up as a new crater. It shows that even with decades of experience, the moon is still incredibly hard to reach. You can’t just "do" a moon landing. You have to earn it.
Actionable Insights for the Space-Curious
If you're trying to keep track of this evolving list, stop looking for a static Wikipedia table. Things are moving too fast. Instead, keep an eye on these three indicators:
- The Artemis Accords: Over 30 countries have signed this US-led agreement. If a country signs, they’re likely planning a lunar mission soon.
- Private Partnerships: Watch companies like Astrobotic and Firefly Aerospace. These companies are the "delivery trucks" for countries that don't have their own big rockets.
- The South Pole: Any mission targeting the lunar South Pole is a serious attempt at long-term presence, not just a flag-planting stunt.
The moon isn't just a nightlight in the sky anymore. It’s the eighth continent. Whether you’re looking at it from a geopolitical lens or just think space is cool, the list of "moon countries" is only going to grow from here.
To stay ahead of the curve, you should follow the live launch schedules for NASA’s Artemis program and China’s CNSA updates. Most of these missions are streamed live on YouTube, and seeing a landing happen in real-time is a lot more visceral than reading about it in a history book. Keep an eye on the upcoming Artemis II launch window—it's the closest we've been to a "Moon Age" since the disco era.