1966 ⟶ Soviet Luna 9 Soft Landing on the Moon
Soviet Luna 9 probe makes the first successful soft landing ...
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2019
🚀 Sputnik 1 Launch and the Start of the Space Age
The Soviet Union launches the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into orbit, beginning the space age. The US launches its first satellite, Explorer 1, four months later.⟶
Space ExplorationSputnikSatelliteSpace RaceSoviet UnionUnited StatesCold WarTechnology1950sGeopolitics
Soviet Union
United States🌑 Soviet Luna Program Achieves Lunar Firsts
The USSR and the US both launch probes to the Moon, but NASA's Pioneer probes all failed. The Soviet Luna program was more successful. Luna 2 crash-lands on the Moon's surface in September, and Luna 3 returns the first pictures of the Moon's farside in October.⟶
Space ExplorationMoonLuna ProgramSpace RaceSoviet UnionNASALunar MissionsPioneer Probes
Soviet UnionUnited States🚀 Soviet Luna 9 Soft Landing on the Moon
Soviet Luna 9 probe makes the first successful soft landing on the Moon in January, while the US lands the far more complex Surveyor missions, which follows up to NASA's Ranger series of crash-landers, scout sites for possible crewed landings.⟶
Space ExplorationMoon LandingLuna ProgramSpace RaceSoviet Union1960sSoft LandingLunar Missions
Soviet Union🌕 US Lands Humans on the Moon (Apollo 11)
The US wins the race for the Moon as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin step onto the lunar surface on July 20. Apollo 11 is followed by five further landing missions, three carrying a sophisticated Lunar Roving Vehicle.⟶
Space ExplorationApollo ProgramMoon LandingNASAHuman SpaceflightSpace RaceNeil ArmstrongBuzz Aldrin
United States🚀 Soviet Probe Venera 9 Lands on Venus
The Soviet probe Venera 9 lands on the surface of Venus and sends back the first picture of its surface. The first probe to land on another planet, Venera 7 in 1970, had no camera. Both break down within an hour in the hostile atmosphere.⟶
Space ExplorationVenusVenera ProgramPlanetary ScienceSoviet UnionSpace Probe1970s
Soviet Union🇨🇳 Chang'e 4 Soft Landing on the Far Side of the Moon
China's Chang'e 4 became the first spacecraft to perform a soft landing on the far side of the Moon.⟶
Space ExplorationLunar ExplorationChang'e 4MoonFar Side of the MoonChina National Space Administration
China