From the 1950s through the 1970s, the Soviet Union (USSR) had an ambitious plan for lunar exploration using unmanned craft. While the vast majority of the 45 missions failed spectacularly, the successes of this program made space exploration history. Not only were seventeen missions successes, several were also key victories in the space race between the United States and the former USSR. Luna program spacecraft were the first to impact and make a survivable landing on the Moon, photograph the far side of the Moon (never before seen by humans) and orbit the Moon.
Fast Facts: *
Luna 1 was the first spacecraft to flyby the Moon and the first to go into orbit around our Sun.
Luna 2, the first spacecraft to impact the Moon, scattered Russian medals on the Lunar surface. They are still there.
Luna 3 snapped the first-ever images of the far side of the Moon.
Key Dates
- 09.23.58: First Luna Program Launch (Unnamed)
- 08.09.76: Final Luna Program Launch (Luna 24)
- Status: Luna Program Completed
* NASA
