# Luna 3

> lunar probe, first-ever mission to photograph the far side of the Moon

**Wikidata**: [Q942814](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q942814)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_3)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/luna-3

## Summary
Luna 3 was the first spacecraft to photograph the far side of the Moon, a historic achievement in space exploration. Launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1959, it transmitted 29 images of the lunar far side, marking a major milestone in lunar mapping and Cold War-era space competition.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: October 4, 1959
- **Operator**: Soviet Union
- **Manufacturer**: S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
- **Mass**: 278.5 kg (at takeoff)
- **COSPAR ID**: 1959-008A
- **Orbital Periapsis/Apoapsis**: 40.638 km / 460.725 km (around Earth)
- **Firsts**: First mission to image the lunar far side, first use of automated film development and transmission in space
- **Decay Date**: Re-entered Earth's atmosphere on April 29, 1960

## FAQs
### Q: When did Luna 3 launch?
A: Luna 3 launched on October 4, 1959, from Baikonur Cosmodrome's Gagarin's Start pad.

### Q: What happened to Luna 3 after its mission?
A: After completing its flyby, Luna 3 remained in Earth orbit until decaying and re-entering the atmosphere on April 29, 1960.

### Q: Why was imaging the far side of the Moon important?
A: The far side is never visible from Earth, making Luna 3's photographs critical for scientific study and future lunar exploration planning.

## Why It Matters
Luna 3 revolutionized lunar science by revealing the Moon's far side, which has fewer maria and more highlands than the near side. This discovery reshaped geological understanding of the Moon and demonstrated Soviet technological prowess during the Space Race. The mission's success validated autonomous spacecraft systems, paving the way for future unmanned probes and crewed missions. Its images were used to create the first comprehensive lunar atlases, aiding both scientific research and strategic planning for lunar landings.

## Notable For
- **First Lunar Far Side Imagery**: Captured 29 grainy but historic photographs using a 200 mm lens and automated film scanner.
- **Autonomous Systems**: Developed and transmitted images without human intervention, a groundbreaking feat for 1959.
- **Circumlunar Trajectory**: Flew 6,200 km above the Moon's surface after a gravity-assisted swing-by.
- **Short Orbital Lifespan**: decayed within seven months due to limited orbital stability.
- **Cold War Milestone**: Highlighted Soviet space capabilities amid geopolitical tensions.

## Body
### Launch and Mission Design
Luna 3 launched aboard a Luna 8K72 carrier rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome. It followed the partial failure of Luna E-3 No.1 and built on the success of Luna 2, the first human-made object to reach the Moon. The probe used a Ye-2A spacecraft bus with a hermetically sealed compartment for the camera system.

### Trajectory and Flyby
After reaching Earth orbit, Luna 3 performed a trajectory correction to fly by the Moon at a distance of 6,200 km on October 6, 1959. This flyby positioned the probe to image the far side over a 40-minute window using its A-1000 camera system.

### Photography and Data Transmission
The probe's camera captured images on 35 mm film, which was developed onboard using a chemical processor. Images were scanned and transmitted to Earth as analog signals via a 5 W transmitter. The photographs, though low-resolution by modern standards, clearly showed the Moon's far side lacked the large, dark basaltic plains (maria) common on the near side.

### Orbital Decay
Luna 3 remained in a highly elliptical Earth orbit (periapsis: 40.638 km, apoapsis: 460.725 km) with a 15-day orbital period. Atmospheric drag eventually caused its decay, with re-entry occurring on April 29, 1960.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Luna 3",
  "description": "Soviet lunar probe, first to photograph the Moon's far side",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_3",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q24279",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_3"
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  "additionalType": "Spacecraft",
  "manufacturer": "S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia",
  "operatingOrganisation": "Soviet Union"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013