Luna 2

Luna 2
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Name	Luna 2
Mission type	Lunar impactor
Operator	Soviet space program
COSPAR ID	1959-014A
SATCAT	00114
Mission duration	33.5 hours
Spacecraft	Ye-1A No.7
Manufacturer	OKB-1
Launch mass	390.2 kg
Launch date	12 September 1959, 06:39:42 UTC
Launch rocket	Luna 8K72 s/n I1-7B
Launch site	Baikonur Site 1/5
Last contact	13 September 1959, 21:02:24 UTC
Impact date	13 September 1959, 21:02:24 UTC
Impact site	Palus Putredinis, east of Mare Imbrium, near craters Aristillus and Archimedes

Luna 2, formally known as Lunik 2, was a landmark space probe launched by the Soviet Union as part of the Luna programme. It achieved the historic milestone of becoming the first human-made object to reach the surface of another celestial body, successfully impacting the Moon on 13 September 1959. The mission provided critical data on the lunar environment and represented a major propaganda victory for the Soviet space program during the Space Race with the United States.

Overview

The development of Luna 2 was directed by the premier Soviet rocket designer Sergei Korolev and his team at OKB-1. It was the sixth attempt by the Soviet Union to reach the Moon, following the earlier failures of the Ye-1 series probes. The successful launch occurred from the Baikonur Cosmodrome using a modified R-7 Semyorka rocket, designated the Luna 8K72. The mission's primary political objective was to demonstrate the technological superiority of the Soviet Union over its Cold War rival, the United States, following the earlier triumph of Sputnik 1.

Mission profile

Luna 2 was launched on a direct ascent trajectory without entering a parking orbit around Earth. The probe separated from its third-stage rocket, which followed it to the lunar surface. During its 33.5-hour flight, ground controllers at the Evpatoria tracking station made a crucial mid-course correction, demonstrating advanced navigation capabilities. The spacecraft impacted the Moon at a high velocity in the region of Palus Putredinis, between the notable craters Aristillus and Archimedes. The exact moment of impact was confirmed by the cessation of its radio signal.

Scientific instruments and findings

The spherical spacecraft carried several key instruments to study interplanetary space and the Moon. These included a scintillation counter, a micrometeorite detector, and a magnetometer. Data transmitted before impact confirmed the absence of a significant lunar magnetic field, a finding of great importance to planetary science. The mission also carried symbolic pennants bearing the State Emblem of the Soviet Union, which were scattered upon impact. The probe's instruments detected no evidence of radiation belts around the Moon, contrasting with the recent discovery of the Van Allen radiation belt around Earth by the American Explorer 1.

Impact and legacy

The success of Luna 2 was a monumental achievement with immediate global impact. It was celebrated as a major victory for the Soviet space program and was personally announced by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev during his visit to the United States. The event intensified the Space Race, directly spurring the creation of NASA's Apollo program. Scientifically, it paved the way for subsequent missions like Luna 3, which photographed the far side of the Moon. The location of its impact site was later photographed in detail by missions such as Lunar Orbiter 5 and the crew of Apollo 15. The mission remains a foundational event in the history of space exploration and robotic spacecraft. Category:Luna program Category:Space probes Category:1959 in the Soviet Union