Soviet probe achieves first soft landing on moon 50 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1966)

1960s, space exploration


Video: 'The Luna 9 Story - Space Vehicle Lands On The Moon (1966)'

(Thursday, February 3, 1966, 9:45 p.m. MSK/1:45 p.m. EST) — The Soviet probe Luna 9 today became the first man-made object to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, or any planetary body other than Earth, and to transmit photographic data to Earth from the surface of another planetary body.