Surveyor I was the first U.S. spacecraft to achieve a soft touchdown on the Moon, marking a major milestone in robotic lunar exploration. Launched on May 30, 1966, by NASA, its mission was designed to test landing techniques and analyze the Moon’s surface in preparation for future crewed expeditions, particularly the Apollo Program.

Arriving safely 3 days later, in the Oceanus Procellarum region, the lander successfully transmitted more than 11,000 images, providing an unprecedented view of the lunar terrain. In addition to photography, it conducted crucial experiments, assessing the mechanical…