Recordeddatespace
Luna 1 passes the Moon
Luna 1, operated by Soviet lunar programme (OKB-1 / Lavochkin) of Soviet Union, passes the Moon on 1959-01-04. Intended to strike the Moon and missed by several thousand kilometres, becoming the first spacecraft to leave Earth orbit and enter orbit around the Sun.
Historical — it happened, and the record is settled.
Subjects
- Luna 1 · mission · not located
Evidence
Partly verified — Core facts are sourced; some optional detail is deliberately absent.
NSSDCA master catalogue — Luna programme
Launch and arrival dates, mission class and landing or impact positions for the Soviet Luna spacecraft.
NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive · Partly verified
NSSDCA master catalogue, Luna spacecraft entries