Luna (rocket)
Encyclopedia
The Luna 8K72 vehicles were carrier rockets used by the Soviet Union
for nine space probe
launch attempts in the Luna programme
between 1958-09-23 and 1960-04-16. Like many other Soviet launchers of that era the Luna 8K72 vehicles were derived from the R-7 Semyorka
design, which is also the basis for the modern Soyuz rocket.
The first flight of a Luna 8K72, which was to launch the Luna E-1 No.1 probe, ended 92 seconds after launch when the rocket broke up and exploded, destroying the payload.
The second flight of a Luna 8K72, which was to launch the Luna E-1 No.2 probe, ended 104 seconds after launch when the rocket broke up and exploded, destroying the payload.
The third flight of a Luna 8K72, which was to launch the Luna E-1 No.3 probe, ended 245 seconds after launch when the rocket broke up and exploded, destroying the payload.
, launched 1959-01-02, which was intended as a lunar impactor mission. Luna 1 instead passed within 5995 kilometres (3,725.1 mi) of the Moon's surface 1959-01-04, and then went into orbit around the Sun between the orbits of Earth and Mars.
was launched by a Luna 8K72 1959-09-12. It was the first spacecraft to impact the lunar surface.
spacecraft took the first photographs of the far side of the Moon.
(Korabl-Sputnik 1) was successfully launched 1960-05-15 using a Vostok 8K72
vehicle.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
for nine space probe
Space probe
A robotic spacecraft is a spacecraft with no humans on board, that is usually under telerobotic control. A robotic spacecraft designed to make scientific research measurements is often called a space probe. Many space missions are more suited to telerobotic rather than crewed operation, due to...
launch attempts in the Luna programme
Luna programme
The Luna programme , occasionally called Lunik or Lunnik, was a series of robotic spacecraft missions sent to the Moon by the Soviet Union between 1959 and 1976. Fifteen were successful, each designed as either an orbiter or lander, and accomplished many firsts in space exploration...
between 1958-09-23 and 1960-04-16. Like many other Soviet launchers of that era the Luna 8K72 vehicles were derived from the R-7 Semyorka
R-7 Semyorka
The R-7 was a Soviet missile developed during the Cold War, and the world's first intercontinental ballistic missile. The R-7 made 28 launches between 1957 and 1961, but was never deployed operationally. A derivative, the R-7A, was deployed from 1960 to 1968...
design, which is also the basis for the modern Soyuz rocket.
The first flight of a Luna 8K72, which was to launch the Luna E-1 No.1 probe, ended 92 seconds after launch when the rocket broke up and exploded, destroying the payload.
The second flight of a Luna 8K72, which was to launch the Luna E-1 No.2 probe, ended 104 seconds after launch when the rocket broke up and exploded, destroying the payload.
The third flight of a Luna 8K72, which was to launch the Luna E-1 No.3 probe, ended 245 seconds after launch when the rocket broke up and exploded, destroying the payload.
Luna 1
The first probe launched by a Luna 8K72 to reach orbit was Luna 1Luna 1
Luna 1 , first known as First Cosmic Ship, then known as Mechta was the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and the first of the Luna program of Soviet automatic interplanetary stations successfully launched in the direction of the Moon.While traveling through the outer Van Allen...
, launched 1959-01-02, which was intended as a lunar impactor mission. Luna 1 instead passed within 5995 kilometres (3,725.1 mi) of the Moon's surface 1959-01-04, and then went into orbit around the Sun between the orbits of Earth and Mars.
Luna 2
Luna 2Luna 2
Luna 2 was the second of the Soviet Union's Luna programme spacecraft launched to the Moon. It was the first spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon...
was launched by a Luna 8K72 1959-09-12. It was the first spacecraft to impact the lunar surface.
Luna 3
The final successful launch of a Luna 8K72 took place 1959-10-04. The Luna 3Luna 3
The Soviet space probe Luna 3 of 1959 was the third space probe to be sent to the neighborhood of the Moon, and this mission was an early feat in the spaceborne exploration of outer space...
spacecraft took the first photographs of the far side of the Moon.
Other launch attempts
None of the other launch attempts using Luna 8K72 vehicles succeeded in placing probes into orbit. Less than a month after the final Luna 8K72 failure, Sputnik 4Sputnik 4
Korabl-Sputnik 1 , was the first test flight of the Soviet Vostok programme, and the first Vostok spacecraft. It was launched on May 15, 1960. Though Korabl-Sputnik 1 was unmanned, it was a precursor to the first human spaceflight, Vostok 1...
(Korabl-Sputnik 1) was successfully launched 1960-05-15 using a Vostok 8K72
Vostok rocket
Vostok was a family of rockets derived from the Soviet R-7 Semyorka ICBM designed for the human spaceflight programme. This family of rockets launched the first artificial satellite and the first manned spacecraft in human history...
vehicle.