Luna 3 (E-3 series) was the third spacecraft in a series that reached the vicinity of the Moon. It was launched into space by the Launch Unit on October 4, 1959, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome using a Vostok rocket. On October 6, 1959, it passed about 6,200 kilometers above the Moon’s south pole. The first photographs of the far side of the Moon were taken by this spacecraft. These photos revealed mountainous terrain as well as two dark and low-lying regions named Mare Moscovrae (Sea of Moscow) and Mare Desiderii (Sea of Desire). It was later observed that the Sea of Desire actually consisted of the smaller Mare Ingenii (Sea of Ingenuity) and other dark craters.
Although the spacecraft had the capacity to take 40 photographs, only 29 images were successfully transmitted back to Earth. Naturally, as this was the first attempt, the quality of the photographs was quite low; however, it provided significant experience for future missions. In addition, thanks to the micrometeorite and cosmic ray detectors on board, it became possible for the first time to conduct various scientific studies in lunar orbit.
Orhan Açıkgöz
Yücel Cultural Foundation
Voluntary Author
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