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Credit & Copyright: Unknown
Explanation:
The Luna 9 spacecraft above performed the first soft landing
on another planetary body.
Following a series of failures,
the Soviet probe touched down in the Moon's
Oceanus Procellarum region February 3, 1966.
It accomplished this
milestone in lunar exploration only shortly after the death of
Sergei Korolev, the father of the
Soviet Space Program.
Reportedly, Korolev's colleagues
wished to dedicate the Luna 9 mission to him but were unable to as
his role as the Chief Designer was still a state secret.
A pole, just visible extending at the lower left, sensed
the impact with the lunar surface, triggering the spacecraft to
eject the weighted, egg-shaped capsule (upper right). The 250
pound capsule then struck the surface, rolled upright, unfolded four spring
actuated petals to steady itself, and transmitted the first
views from the lunar surface back to Earth.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day