The program "Moon"

First vehicle " Moon - 1 " has passed near to moon and has informed various data about it - first of all about absence at moon of a magnetic field. "Moon - 2" has falled and was broken in the Sea of Rains in September, 1959, and in October "Moon - 3" has left into circular orbit around of moon and has transmitted first-ever photos of its back side. In 1965 the Soviet station " Probe - 3 " has photographed east area of a return hemisphere of moon. On the basis of photos of "Moon - 3" and "Probe - 3" in the USSR " the Atlas of a back side of moon " and a first-ever full card of moon were made.

In January, 1966. the USSR has achieved tremendous success automatic vehicle " Moon - 9 " has made soft landing to a surface of moon. its chambers have transmitted to the Earth of a panorama of a lunar landscape in a landing area, appearing as plain filled with a lava. Landing of "Moon - 9" has denied the theory that mares on depth in some hundreds meters are filled with soft treacherous dust.

Soviet Union has continued the program of automatic research of moon and in 70th years. It has achieved triumphal success when "Moon - 16" was lowered in the Sea of Abundance and then has returned to the Earth, having delivered samples of a lunar rock. Later in the same 1970 "Moon - 17" has landed in the Sea of Rains and has delivered "Moon rover - 1" - the 8-wheel automotive vehicle working from solar batteries and controlled from the Earth. Having conducted extensive researches, it has stopped to act October, 4, 1971. In 1973 it was followed with "Moon rover - 2".