Lunar Circumnavigation Award

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The Lunar Circumnavigation Award

First Offered : 1994

Status : Unclaimed

The Goal

Become the first expedition team to complete a successful, unsupported overland circumnavigation of the lunar surface.

The Moon

The lunar environment is extreme. With no atmosphere the team will be exposed to solar particle events that could literally fry them. Intense ultraviolet radiation will degrade materials. Temperatures could range from minus 170 to plus 110 degrees centigrade depending on whether they are in light or dark. They will be completely dependent on life support systems to survive.

The total distance of a Trans-Lunar expedition is approximately 11,000 kilometres and could take weeks depending on troubles encountered crossing craters. The team may also have to endure periods of complete darkness and periods of complete light as the lunar day is just over 27 days long. They could choose to follow the sunlight around the lunar surface.

Claiming the Award

This award was first offered by the Foundation in 1994 and can be claimed by completing a circumnavigation of the lunar surface. Any route around the moon can be chosen, equatorial or polar.

Destination Mars | Olympus Mountaineering Award
Southern Polar Award | Awards Home

Moon Vital Statistics

Equatorial Distance:  3,476 km
Length of Day: Just over 27 days
Mean Distance from Earth:
384,400 km.
Surface Gravity: One sixth

of Earth's
Prominent Features:
Mare Criseum (plain)

Ptolemaeus (crater)

Copernicaus (crater)

Appenninus (mountains)

Successful Human Expeditions

Apollo 11: 1969 (USA)
Apollo 12: 1969 (USA)
Apollo 14: 1971 (USA)
Apollo 15: 1971 (USA)
Apollo 16: 1972 (USA)
Apollo 17: 1972 (USA)