Fra Mauro Formation

What Happened Here?

Landing site of Apollo 14, February 5, 1971. Originally the intended target for Apollo 13 (aborted). Fra Mauro highlands hold ancient impact ejecta from the Imbrium Basin.

Region Overview

Ancient highland region containing Imbrium Basin ejecta. Apollo 14 landing site; originally target for Apollo 13.

Missions Associated with this Site

• Apollo 14 (1971) · NASA LANDED
  Confirmed landing. Longest EVA distance on foot to that point
• Apollo 13 (1970) · NASA ABORTED
  ⚠ Intended target site — mission aborted before landing. Never landed.

Historical Timeline

• 1970-04-11 — Launch from Kennedy Space Center (Apollo 13)
• 1970-04-13 — Lunar landing ABORTED — LM Aquarius becomes lifeboat (Apollo 13)
• 1970-04-13T03:07Z — Oxygen tank #2 explodes in Service Module (Apollo 13)
• 1970-04-14 — Crew performs free-return trajectory manoeuvre (Apollo 13)
• 1970-04-17 — Crew splashdown, Pacific Ocean — all three survived (Apollo 13)
• 1971-01-31 — Launch from Kennedy Space Center (Apollo 14)
• 1971-02-05 — Antares lands at Fra Mauro (Apollo 14)
• 1971-02-05 — First EVA — ALSEP deployment (Apollo 14)
• 1971-02-06 — Second EVA — trek toward Cone Crater (42.28 kg samples) (Apollo 14)
• 1971-02-09 — Crew splashdown, Pacific Ocean (Apollo 14)

Site Imagery & Gallery

Scientific References & Sources

• https://www.nasa.gov/mission/apollo-14/
• https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1971-008C
• https://www.nasa.gov/mission/apollo-13/
• https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1970-029A
• https://www.nasa.gov/specials/apollo13/

Explore Fra Mauro Formation in 3D

Interactive 3D Moon atlas with terrain model, spacecraft markers, and historical site stories.