About this launch
Luna 3 was a Soviet spacecraft and was the first ever mission to photograph the far side of the moon.
More about this launch
Launch window and padBaikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
- Site
- Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan
Rocket and boosterVostok-L 8K72
- Vehicle
- Vostok-L 8K72
Vostok-L 8K72: specs, record and next flights → Soviet Union: all its launches →
MissionLunar Exploration · Lunar flyby
Lunar Exploration · Lunar flyby
What it put in orbit1 catalogued object
| Object | Type | Orbit | Globe |
|---|---|---|---|
| LUNA 3 1959-008A | Payload | re-entered 1960-04-20 |
COSPAR ID 1959-008. Orbits from the CelesTrak satellite catalogue (perigee × apogee, inclination).
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