# Luna E-3 No.1

> lunar spacecraft which was destroyed in a launch accident

**Wikidata**: [Q1877341](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1877341)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_E-3_No.1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/luna-e-3-no-1

## Summary
Luna E-3 No.1 was a Soviet lunar spacecraft destroyed during a launch accident on April 15, 1960. It was part of the Luna programme and operated by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. The probe was launched from Gagarin's Start using a Luna 8K72 rocket but failed to achieve its mission objectives due to the launch failure.

## Key Facts
- **Launch date**: April 15, 1960, at 15:06:45 UTC
- **Launch site**: Gagarin's Start
- **Launch vehicle**: Luna 8K72 (model L1-9/I-19AMS)
- **Mass**: 279 kg at takeoff
- **Operator**: Academy of Sciences of the USSR
- **Manufacturer**: S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia
- **Cause of destruction**: Launch failure
- **Part of series**: Luna programme
- **Preceded by**: Luna 3 (first mission to photograph the far side of the Moon)
- **Followed by**: Luna E-3 No.2

## FAQs
### Q: What was Luna E-3 No.1?
A: Luna E-3 No.1 was a Soviet lunar spacecraft launched on April 15, 1960, as part of the Luna programme. It was destroyed during a launch accident and did not complete its mission.

### Q: Who operated Luna E-3 No.1?
A: The spacecraft was operated by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, a key institution in the Soviet space program.

### Q: What was the cause of Luna E-3 No.1's destruction?
A: Luna E-3 No.1 was destroyed due to a launch failure, preventing it from achieving its mission objectives.

### Q: What was the relationship between Luna E-3 No.1 and Luna 3?
A: Luna E-3 No.1 followed the successful Luna 3 mission, which was the first to photograph the far side of the Moon. Luna E-3 No.1 was succeeded by Luna E-3 No.2.

### Q: What was the launch vehicle used for Luna E-3 No.1?
A: The spacecraft was launched using a Luna 8K72 rocket, specifically model L1-9/I-19AMS, from Gagarin's Start.

## Why It Matters
Luna E-3 No.1 was part of the Soviet Union's early efforts to explore the Moon, following the successful Luna 3 mission. Despite its destruction, the Luna programme continued with subsequent missions, including Luna E-3 No.2. The spacecraft's failure highlighted the challenges of early lunar exploration and contributed to the broader understanding of spaceflight mechanics. Its legacy lies in the broader context of the Soviet space programme, which aimed to achieve significant milestones in space exploration despite setbacks.

## Notable For
- **First lunar mission after Luna 3**: Luna E-3 No.1 was the first mission in the Luna programme after the highly successful Luna 3, which photographed the far side of the Moon.
- **Launch failure**: The spacecraft's destruction due to a launch failure underscored the technical difficulties of early space exploration.
- **Part of the Luna programme**: Luna E-3 No.1 was one of several missions in the Luna programme, which aimed to explore the Moon and gather scientific data.
- **Operated by the Academy of Sciences of the USSR**: The spacecraft was managed by a key institution in the Soviet space programme, reflecting the country's commitment to space exploration.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Luna E-3 No.1 was launched on April 15, 1960, from Gagarin's Start using a Luna 8K72 rocket. The spacecraft was part of the Luna programme, which aimed to explore the Moon and gather scientific data. Despite its destruction, the mission contributed to the broader understanding of spaceflight mechanics and the challenges of early lunar exploration.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: The spacecraft had a takeoff mass of 279 kg.
- **Launch Vehicle**: The Luna 8K72 rocket, specifically model L1-9/I-19AMS, was used for the launch.
- **Operator**: The Academy of Sciences of the USSR was responsible for the mission's operation.

### Mission Context
- **Preceded by**: Luna 3, the first mission to photograph the far side of the Moon.
- **Followed by**: Luna E-3 No.2, the next mission in the Luna programme.

### Significance
Luna E-3 No.1 was a significant part of the Soviet space programme, despite its failure. The mission highlighted the technical challenges of early space exploration and contributed to the broader understanding of lunar missions. Its legacy lies in the broader context of the Luna programme, which aimed to achieve significant milestones in space exploration.

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## References

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