Luna 9

Soviet Union1966Moon landingMolniya-MUSSR

AgencySoviet Union

Year1966

TypeMoon landing

RocketMolniya-M

CountryUSSR

About the Mission

First successful soft landing on the Moon, February 3, 1966. The first photos from the lunar surface. A British observatory intercepted the images and published them before the Soviets did. Proved the lunar surface was firm enough to support a lander, not a dust trap.

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