Soviets hit Venus, linking man to the planets 50 years ago this hour (Mar 1 1966)

1960s, space exploration


Video: 'Venera 3'

(Tuesday, March 1, 1966, at 6:56 UTC/9:56 a.m. MSK) — The Soviet space probe Venera 3 crashed today on Venus, becoming the first spacecraft to land on another planet’s surface.

Although it was able to transmit to Earth, its data capture system had failed earlier in transit and was unable to record any data.