Luna 2

Luna 2 was launched on September 12, 1959, and successfully impacted the lunar surface east of Mare Serenitatis near the craters Aristillus, Archimedes, and Autolycus on September 14, 1959 at 22:02:24 UTC. The spherical spacecraft carried Soviet pennants and scientific sensors confirming that the Moon had no significant magnetic field or radiation belts.

🚀 Explore in 3D Atlas

Agency / Country

Soviet Space Program (USSR) (Soviet Union)

Mission Status

IMPACT

Launch / Target Year

1959

Spacecraft / Type

Luna E-1A No.7

Landing Site Zone

Palus Putredinis (Luna 2 Impact Site)

Surface Coordinates

Lat 29.1°, Lon 0.0°

Mission Imagery & Gallery

Luna 2 photograph 1: Soviet Space Program / RIA Novosti — Luna 2 spherical impactor model (Public Domain) — Soviet Space Program / RIA Novosti — Luna 2 spherical impactor model (Public Domain)

Primary Achievement

First human-made object to reach the surface of the Moon, impacting Palus Putredinis.

Mission Objectives

Direct impact on the lunar surface with telemetric confirmation
Deliver Soviet symbolic pennants to the Moon
Measure radiation belts, cosmic rays, and magnetic field right down to the surface

Timeline Events

1959-09-12 — Launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on a direct ascent lunar trajectory.
1959-09-13 — Sodium gas cloud released at 156,000 km altitude for optical tracking from ground observatories.
1959-09-14 — Impacted the Moon at Palus Putredinis at 22:02:24 UTC at ~3.3 km/s, ending transmission on surface contact.

Related Missions

Luna 1 (Mechta) (1959) · Soviet Space Program
Luna 3 (1959) · Soviet Space Program
Ranger 7 (1964) · NASA

Historical & Technical Sources

Ready to view Luna 2 in 3D?

Interactive 3D Moon viewer with exact site coordinates, sun position, and surrounding topography.

🚀 View Luna 2 on 3D Moon