This date in science: Luna 1 spacecraft heads toward moon

Luna 1 was a milestone for exploration of the solar system, but American historians suspect the spacecraft failed one major objective: to hit the moon. Image credit: NASA
Some historians believe Luna 1 – a Soviet spacecraft – was supposed to hit the moon. It would have been a large coup for the Soviets in the early days of the Space Race.

January 2, 1959. Trailing orange sodium gas, the Luna 1 spacecraft broke free of Earth’s gravity on this date, to head towards the moon.

However, the spacecraft did fly successfully past Earth’s neighbor on January 4, 1959.
Luna 1 was a milestone for exploration of the solar system, but American historians suspect the spacecraft failed one major objective: to hit the moon.
And the orange gas? It was supposed to help scientists track the spacecraft and to test the behaviours of gas in space. The 795-pound spacecraft also picked up new data on the Earth’s radiation belt.

Bottom line: On January 2, 1959, the Luna 1 spacecraft broke free of Earth’s gravity on this date, heading towards the moon.

SOURCE:::: http://www.earthsky.org

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