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The far side of the moon is lit by the sun just as much as the near side. The true reason for landing on the near side instead of the far side has to do with communications, as we did not have comm satellites orbiting the moon during the Apollo missions.

The near side was just much more practical than the far side.

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Did the Apollo moon missions land on dark or light side?

The Apollo moon missions landed on the light side of the moon. The far side of the moon, often referred to as the "dark side," is not actually dark but is simply the side that always faces away from Earth.


How many people have seen the back side of the moon?

27. These were the crew of the various Apollo missions, including the ill-fated Apollo 13, and the lunar-orbit missions from Apollo 8 on. A grand total of 12 human beings have set foot on the Moon's surface.


Why did the Apollo missions land on the lighted side of the moon?

No side of the Moon is permanently lit or dark, of course. A full Lunar day is about 29 earth days, and both sides get both night and day during it. The habit of calling the far side of the Moon, "the dark side of the Moon" has lead to this confusion. So they landed on the lit side so they could see to land and explore. They could not wait and land on the other side when it was lit a couple of weeks later, because landing on the far side of the Moon would mean they could not transmit to Earth, as the Moon itself would be in the way.


Space craft that landed on the moon?

The first spacecraft to successfully land on the moon was the Soviet Union's Luna 2 in 1959. The United States' Apollo missions famously landed astronauts on the moon starting in 1969, with Apollo 11 being the first to do so. The Chinese Chang'e 4 mission made a successful soft landing on the far side of the moon in 2019.


What side of the moon did man land on?

Humans have landed on the near side of the Moon, as all of the Apollo missions landed on this side due to its favorable visibility from Earth for communication and landing operations. The far side, or "dark side," is less visible from Earth and presents communication challenges.

Related Questions

Did the Apollo moon missions land on dark or light side?

The Apollo moon missions landed on the light side of the moon. The far side of the moon, often referred to as the "dark side," is not actually dark but is simply the side that always faces away from Earth.


Why didn't any Apollo missions land on the far side of the moon?

The far side of the moon is freezing and more hostile. And from that side they , the astronauts would not be heard or receive signals fromN.A.S.A.


Have man ever seen the far side of the moon?

Yes, during the Apollo missions to the Moon, the modules orbited the Moon, affording a view all around the Moon.


How many people have seen the back side of the moon?

27. These were the crew of the various Apollo missions, including the ill-fated Apollo 13, and the lunar-orbit missions from Apollo 8 on. A grand total of 12 human beings have set foot on the Moon's surface.


Why did the Apollo missions land on the lighted side of the moon?

No side of the Moon is permanently lit or dark, of course. A full Lunar day is about 29 earth days, and both sides get both night and day during it. The habit of calling the far side of the Moon, "the dark side of the Moon" has lead to this confusion. So they landed on the lit side so they could see to land and explore. They could not wait and land on the other side when it was lit a couple of weeks later, because landing on the far side of the Moon would mean they could not transmit to Earth, as the Moon itself would be in the way.


Space craft that landed on the moon?

The first spacecraft to successfully land on the moon was the Soviet Union's Luna 2 in 1959. The United States' Apollo missions famously landed astronauts on the moon starting in 1969, with Apollo 11 being the first to do so. The Chinese Chang'e 4 mission made a successful soft landing on the far side of the moon in 2019.


Do astronauts on the far side of the moon have good radio contact with earth?

No, during the Apollo missions radio contact was cut off when astronauts orbited behind the Moon.


What side of the moon did man land on?

Humans have landed on the near side of the Moon, as all of the Apollo missions landed on this side due to its favorable visibility from Earth for communication and landing operations. The far side, or "dark side," is less visible from Earth and presents communication challenges.


Astronauts have always landed on the portion of the moon called?

The 6 missions were all in different places on the moon. Apollo 11 - The Sea of Tranquility Apollo 12 - The Ocean of Storms Apollo 14 - Fra Mauro Apollo 15 - Hadley Appenine Apollo 16 - Descarte Highlands Apollo 17 - Tarus Littrow


What is the craft the Apollo 13 astronauts used to land on the moon?

The first lunar landing took place in the sea of tranquility.


Where on the moon did the Apollo module land?

On the sea of tranquility, one of the darker patches just off cetre of the moon as we look at it. They had to land on the side facing us so that they could transmit sound and pictures clearly.


Why didnt Apollo 13 make it to the moon?

Apollo 13 did not make it to the moon due to an explosion in one of the oxygen tanks that severely damaged the spacecraft's systems. The crew had to abort the mission and use the lunar module as a lifeboat to safely return to Earth.