Luna 2 (E-1A s/n 6), a Soviet lunar impactor, launched on a Vostok-L 8K72 from Baikonur on 12 September 1959. It became the first human-made object to reach another celestial body, striking the Moon near Palus Putredinis on 13 September and confirming no lunar magnetic field.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- Lunar Impactor
- Lunar impact
- Payload to orbit
- 205 kg
- Flight
- 6th
- of 9 Vostok-L 8K72 flights
- Date and time
- 12 September 1959, 06:39 UTC
- Rocket
- Vostok-L 8K72
- Builder
- RKK Energia
- Launch site
- 1/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
- Payload
- Lunar Exploration
- International designator
- 1959-014
- Launches in 1959
- 16th of 23
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
View satellites in Space Atlas