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Luna 2

Spacecraft

Luna 2 was the first spacecraft to successfully reach the Moon's surface, impacting in the Palus Putredinis region on September 14, 1959 after delivering Soviet pennants to the lunar surface.

Key Facts

organization

USSR

orbital regime

Inner System

learn more

Wikipedia

launched

1959-09-12

decommissioned

1959-09-13

launch mass

390.2 kg
Mission Timeline
Decommissioned
Launched

September 12, 1959 at 06:39 UTC

Luna (The Moon)

Impactor

Luna 2 became the first spacecraft to reach the Moon's surface on September 14, 1959, making a high-speed impact near the Palus Putredinis region.

Decommissioned

September 13, 1959 at 21:02 UTC

Luna 2 became the first spacecraft to reach the Moon's surface when it impacted near the Mare Imbrium region at 21:02 UTC on September 13, 1959.

Related Spacecraft
Luna 3
USSR

Launched in 1959

The first spacecraft to photograph the Moon's far side, Luna 3 launched in 1959 and transmitted 17 low-quality images back to Earth, revealing previously unseen lunar features and marking a significant milestone in lunar exploration.

Other Spacecraft
Luna 3
Mariner 2
Mariner 4
Zond 5
Apollo 8
Apollo 10
Apollo 11