Vostok-L 8K72 | Luna-1

Launch Provider & Rocket

• Provider: Soviet Space Program (Government)
• Rocket: Vostok-L 8K72 — Vostok family

Mission

Luna 1 was the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Earth's Moon. Intended to be an impactor it was launched as part of the Soviet Luna programme. Due to an incorrectly timed upper stage burn during launch it missed the Moon.

• Type: Lunar Exploration
• Orbit: Lunar Impactor (Lunar Impactor)

Launch Site

• Pad: 1/5
• Location: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
• View on map

Program

• Luna — The Luna program was a series of robotic spacecraft missions sent to the Moon by the Soviet Union between 1959 and 1976. The program accomplished many firsts in space exploration, including first flyby of the Moon, first impact of the Moon and first photos of the far side of the Moon. Each mission was designed as either an orbiter or lander. They also performed many experiments, studying the Moon's chemical composition, gravity, temperature, and radiation. (Wikipedia)