Luna 3 (E-2A No.1), a Soviet lunar flyby probe, launched on a Vostok-L 8K72 from Baikonur on 4 October 1959. It returned the first photographs of the Moon's far side, imaging about 70% of the unseen hemisphere during its circumlunar pass.
- Outcome
- Success
- Orbit
- Lunar flyby
- Payload to orbit
- 278 kg
- Flight
- 7th
- of 9 Vostok-L 8K72 flights
- Date and time
- 4 October 1959, 00:43 UTC
- Rocket
- Vostok-L 8K72
- Builder
- RKK Energia
- Launch site
- 1/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
- Payload
- Lunar Exploration
- International designator
- 1959-008
- Launches in 1959
- 19th of 23
See it in orbit
Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.
View satellites in Space Atlas