# Luna 2

> first spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon

**Wikidata**: [Q1159927](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1159927)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/luna-2

## Summary
Luna 2 was the first spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon, achieving a hard landing on September 14, 1959. Launched by the Soviet Union on September 12, 1959, it was part of the Luna program and carried Soviet pennants to the lunar surface.

## Key Facts
- First spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon on September 14, 1959
- Launched on September 12, 1959 at 06:39:42 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome
- Mass of 390.2 kilograms at launch
- Operated by S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
- Launched using a Luna 8K72 rocket (I1-7B configuration)
- Landed in the Sinus Lunicus region near the Autolycus crater
- Carried Soviet pennants that were scattered on impact
- Also known as Lunik 2, E-1 No. 7, and Ye-1A No. 7
- COSPAR ID: 1959-014A

## FAQs
### Q: What was Luna 2's mission?
A: Luna 2 was designed to impact the Moon's surface, becoming the first spacecraft to reach the Moon. It carried Soviet pennants and scientific instruments to study the space environment between Earth and the Moon.

### Q: Where did Luna 2 land on the Moon?
A: Luna 2 impacted the Moon in the Sinus Lunicus region, near the Autolycus crater, at coordinates approximately 29.1°N latitude and 0° longitude.

### Q: What happened to Luna 2 after launch?
A: After launching on September 12, 1959, Luna 2 traveled for approximately 36 hours before impacting the Moon's surface on September 14, 1959 at 21:02:23 UTC, becoming the first human-made object to reach another celestial body.

## Why It Matters
Luna 2 represents a pivotal moment in space exploration history as the first human-made object to reach another celestial body. This achievement demonstrated the Soviet Union's growing space capabilities during the Cold War space race and proved that spacecraft could successfully travel from Earth to the Moon. The mission provided valuable data about the space environment between Earth and the Moon, including confirmation that the Moon lacks a significant magnetic field or radiation belts. Luna 2's success paved the way for future lunar exploration, including both robotic and crewed missions, and marked the beginning of humanity's physical presence beyond Earth. The mission also had significant political impact, as the Soviet pennants carried by Luna 2 were scattered on impact, symbolizing Soviet achievement in space during a period of intense competition with the United States.

## Notable For
- First spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon
- First human-made object to impact another celestial body
- Demonstrated Soviet space technology capabilities during the Cold War
- Carried symbolic Soviet pennants to the lunar surface
- Proved that lunar travel was technically feasible

## Body
### Mission Overview
Luna 2 was a Soviet lunar impactor mission launched as part of the Luna program. The spacecraft was designed to impact the Moon's surface, carrying scientific instruments and symbolic payloads to demonstrate Soviet space capabilities.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft had a launch mass of 390.2 kilograms and was launched using a Luna 8K72 rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome's Site 1/5 (also known as Gagarin's Start). The mission duration from launch to impact was approximately 36 hours.

### Launch and Trajectory
Launched on September 12, 1959 at 06:39:42 UTC, Luna 2 followed a trajectory that took it from Earth orbit to lunar impact. The spacecraft successfully navigated the space between Earth and the Moon, providing data about the space environment.

### Lunar Impact
On September 14, 1959 at 21:02:23 UTC, Luna 2 impacted the Moon in the Sinus Lunicus region near the Autolycus crater. The impact scattered Soviet pennants that had been carried aboard the spacecraft.

### Scientific Payload
While primarily a technology demonstration mission, Luna 2 carried instruments to study the space environment between Earth and the Moon. The mission confirmed that the Moon lacks significant magnetic fields or radiation belts.

### Historical Context
Luna 2's success came during the height of the Cold War space race between the Soviet Union and the United States. The mission demonstrated Soviet technological superiority in space at that time and had significant political implications.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Luna 2",
  "description": "First spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_2",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1069",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_2"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Lunar lander",
  "image": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Luna_1_-_2_Spacecraft.png"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/luna_e1a.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration, 1958–2016
4. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1959-014A)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013