In 1970, Luna 17 softlanded in the Oceanus Procellarum and released Lunokhod 1. This remote controlled lunar rover continued to operate for over eleven months, during which it travelled 11km.

Lunokhod 2, which followed in 1973, achieved a comparatively sporty 37km in only 8 weeks before the Soviets, perhaps prematurely, announced that its mission was over and shut it down.

Photo: Soviet Lunar Programme.