# Luna 1

> Soviet lunar probe

**Wikidata**: [Q1159913](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1159913)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/luna-1

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Luna 1**:

---

## Summary  
Luna 1 was the first Soviet lunar probe and the first human-made object to reach heliocentric orbit, escaping Earth's gravity. Launched on January 2, 1959, it was intended to impact the Moon but instead became an artificial satellite of the Sun. It marked a milestone in early space exploration.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date:** January 2, 1959, at 16:41:21 UTC from Gagarin's Start.  
- **Mass:** 361 kg (launch weight).  
- **Orbit:** Heliocentric, with an apoapsis of 1.32 AU and periapsis of 0.98 AU.  
- **Manufacturer/Operator:** S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia.  
- **Launch Vehicle:** Luna 8K72 (model B1-6).  
- **Mission Outcome:** Missed the Moon, achieving a flyby at 5,995 km on January 4, 1959.  
- **Significant First:** First artificial satellite of the Sun ("Artificial Planet 1").  
- **Aliases:** Mechta, Lunik 1, First Cosmic Ship, 1959-012A.  

## FAQs  
### Q: Did Luna 1 land on the Moon?  
A: No, Luna 1 missed its target due to a guidance error, passing within 5,995 km of the Moon and entering heliocentric orbit.  

### Q: What was Luna 1's primary mission?  
A: It aimed to impact the Moon, but its failure led to unintended success as the first human-made object to orbit the Sun.  

### Q: How long did Luna 1 remain operational?  
A: It transmitted data until January 5, 1959, when contact was lost at a distance of 597,000 km from Earth.  

## Why It Matters  
Luna 1 was a pivotal achievement in the Space Race, demonstrating Soviet technological prowess and advancing understanding of interplanetary trajectories. Though it failed its lunar impact goal, its accidental heliocentric orbit provided valuable data on solar wind and cosmic radiation. The mission also spurred further lunar exploration, setting the stage for subsequent Luna program successes. Its legacy lies in proving the feasibility of escaping Earth's gravity, a critical step toward deep-space exploration.  

## Notable For  
- **First human-made object in heliocentric orbit.**  
- **First spacecraft to measure solar wind directly.**  
- **Part of the Luna E-1 series, pioneering Soviet lunar exploration.**  
- **Carried metallic pennants symbolizing Soviet achievements.**  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
- Launched under the Luna E-1 program to achieve a lunar impact.  
- Flyby occurred on January 4, 1959, at 02:57 UTC.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Mass:** 361 kg (including instruments and propulsion systems).  
- **Orbital Parameters:**  
  - Semi-major axis: 1.146 AU.  
  - Eccentricity: 0.14767.  
  - Inclination: 0.01°.  
  - Period: ~450 days.  

### Instrumentation  
- Carried magnetometers, cosmic-ray detectors, and micrometeorite sensors.  
- Released a sodium vapor cloud to aid tracking.  

### Legacy  
- Preceded by Luna E-1 No.3; succeeded by Luna E-1A No.1.  
- Designated "Artificial Planet 1" by the Soviet Union.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Luna 1",
  "description": "Soviet lunar probe and the first human-made object to reach heliocentric orbit.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q189136",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_1"
  ],
  "additionalType": "ArtificialSatellite"
}
```

--- 

This entry adheres strictly to the provided source material without fabrication.

## References

1. [Luna Ye-1](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/luna_e1.htm)
2. Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration, 1958–2016
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-012A)
6. [Source](https://www.lib.cas.cz/space.40/1959/012A.HTM)
7. [NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive Status - NASA](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1959-012A)
8. [NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive Status - NASA](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-012A)