Luna 1 spacecraft

Missed intended lunar impact; first spacecraft to pass the Moon; entered heliocentric orbit.

Era

A (1959-1976)

Parent mission

Luna 1

Role

spacecraft bus

Operator

Soviet space program

Nation

USSR

Launched (UTC)

1959-01-02

Reached Moon (UTC)

1959-01-04

Event type

flyby

Outcome

partial

Site

Flyby; passed ~5,000-6,000 km from Moon

Left on surface

none

Returned material

none

Current status

departed to heliocentric orbit

Operational status (derived)

inactive

Source grade

primary

Primary source