The total cost of the Surveyor program reached $469 million by its conclusion in January 1968. This figure represents the complete financial expenditure for the seven robotic probes developed to prepare for human lunar landings.
Surveyor 1 touched down on the 2nd of June 1966 within Oceanus Procellarum near Flamsteed P crater. It transmitted video data through the 14th of July 1966 despite a two-week lunar night interruption and continued engineering information until the 7th of January 1967.
Surveyor 6 became the first spacecraft planned to deliberately lift off from the Moon. Its engines burned for 2.5 seconds on the 17th of November 1967 creating 150 pounds-force of thrust before rising 12 feet above the ground.
Astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean visited Surveyor 3 in November 1969 during the Apollo 12 mission. They excised several components including the television camera which now hangs at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.
Seven robotic probes traveled directly to the Moon without entering orbit around it between June 1966 and January 1968. Five of these missions achieved their primary objectives while two failed due to technical issues.