The main objective of the Apollo 11 mission was to set the first humans on the moon and get them home safely, a promise made by President John F. Kennedy. Astronauts were also tasked to return samples of lunar rocks and soil to further our understanding of the Moon and the Solar System.

Total Distance covered: about 1km (3300 ft)

Maximum distance from Lunar Module: about 60 meters (200 ft)

Image credit: USGS

The Apollo 12 astronauts successfully achieved the mission's main objective to perform a pinpoint landing. They landed near the Surveyor 3 spacecraft which soft-landed on the moon in 1967. For the second time that humans would walk the moon, they explored, on foot, the geological characteristics of the semi-flat landing area. The crew was able to obtain more geologic training because of the success of the Apollo 11 mission.

Total Distance covered: about 2.3 km (7600 ft)

Maximum distance from Lunar Module: about 411 m (1350 ft)

Image credit: NASA

On the Apollo 14 mission, a cart called the Modular Equipment Transporter (MET) was introduced to help the astronauts to carry equipment and samples on the lunar surface.

Total Distance covered: about 4 km (2.5 miles)

Maximum distance from Lunar Module: 1.5 km (0.9 miles)

Image credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University