E-3 n°2 (Luna-3)

Launch Failure

Liftoff Time (GMT)

15:06:44

Friday April 15, 1960

Mission Details

Launch Notes

The launch was a failure due to an unknown error.

E-3 n°2 (Luna-3)

This probe was launched onto a free-return trajectory around the moon and its purpose was to photograph its far side, which was sunlit at the time. It took 29 pictures covering 70% of the moon's far side and transmitted them when it came back near Earth, but due to poor signal strength only 17 poor-quality pictures were successfully sent. Nevertheless, after image stitching and computer enhancement they created an Atlas of the Far Side of the Moon, which was very exciting for everyone worldwide. It showed a mountainous surface, very different from the near side.

Trans Lunar Injection

1 Payload

279 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Vostok

Active 1958 to 1964

OKB-1 logo

Manufacturer

OKB-1

Rocket

Height: 38.36m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 4,730 kg

GTO: 0 kg

Liftoff Thrust

4,570 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 2.58m

Height: 6.74m

Stages

3

Strap-ons

4

Launch Site

Site 1/5

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Fastest Turnaround

23 hr 32 min

Stats

Vostok


8th

Mission

1st

Mission of 1960

OKB-1


12th

Mission

1st

Mission of 1960

1960


8th

Orbital launch attempt