- Home
- Spacecraft
- Luna 2
Luna 2
First spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon. Luna 2 was launched on September 12, 1959 aboard a Vostok-L 8K72 from Baikonur. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (Sep 12, 1959).
COSPAR 1959 XI 1NORAD 114Soviet Union
Identity
- Name in GCAT
- AMS Luna-2
- Common name
- Luna 2
- Payload designation
- E-1 No. 7
- International designator
- 1959 XI 1
- NORAD catalog number
- 114
- GCAT identifier
- S00114
- UN registration
- A/AC.105/INF.002
Mission
- Mission type
- Deep space
- Use
- Civil government
- Program
- Luna
- Owner
- OKB-1
- Country
- Soviet Union
- Builder
- OKB-1 im. S.P. Korolev
- Platform (bus)
- E-1
Launch
- Date
- September 12, 1959 · 06:39 UTC
- Launch record
- 1959 XISuccess
- Rocket
- Vostok-L 8K72
- Spaceport
- Baikonur · pad LC1
Orbit and fate
- Orbit class (GCAT)
- EEO
- Perigee
- -371 km
- Inclination
- 65.30°
- Status
- Left Earth orbit for deep space
- Status date
- September 12, 1959
- Last known active
- Sep 13, 1959
- End of operations
- Sep 13, 1959
Size
- Mass
- 205 kg
- Dry mass
- 205 kg
- Length
- 0.8 m
- Diameter
- 0.80 m
- Span
- 2.0 m
Deep space
- Deep-space catalog entry
- D00007
- Final central body
- Luna
- Phase start
- September 13, 1959
- Phase outcome
- Reentered (orbital decay) · September 13, 1959
- Destination
- Luna
Flight phases
| From | Central body | Ended | Outcome | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 1959 | Earth | Sep 13, 1959 | Escaped to another body | Luna |
Landings and impacts
| World | Type | Result | Touchdown | Site | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luna | Impactor | Targeted impact | Sep 13, 1959 | Sinus Lunicus | 30.00, 0.00 |
Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q1159927 (CC0).