50 years ago - Luna 9

[Phillip Clark]

On February 3rd 1966 Russia's Luna 9 performed the first survivable landing on the Moon.   Over the next few days it transmitted a series of lunar surface panoramas back to Earth, showing that the lunar surface was clearly not covered by a thick layer of dust (as previously suggested by some astronomers).

The transmissions of the photographs were picked up by the Jodrell Bank radio telescope and they linked a Daily Express teleprinter to their system so that they could decode the transmissions and see the photos.   Jodrell and the Express released the photos before the Russians did, therefore "scooping" the Russians with their own mission!   However, by doing this it was not possible for others to claim with any credibility that the Russians had "faked" the landing or the photographs.

[edkyle99]

On February 3rd 1966 Russia's Luna 9 performed the first survivable landing on the Moon.   Over the next few days it transmitted a series of lunar surface panoramas back to Earth, showing that the lunar surface was clearly not covered by a thick layer of dust (as previously suggested by some astronomers).

The transmissions of the photographs were picked up by the Jodrell Bank radio telescope and they linked a Daily Express teleprinter to their system so that they could decode the transmissions and see the photos.   Jodrell and the Express released the photos before the Russians did, therefore "scooping" the Russians with their own mission!   However, by doing this it was not possible for others to claim with any credibility that the Russians had "faked" the landing or the photographs.

The first successful landing on another world. 

Here's a recount of the Jodrell Bank reception. 
http://proftimobrien.com/2013/12/how-times-change-change-3-and-luna-9/

And another.
https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1966/1966%20-%200378.html

LRO scientists have been looking for Luna 9, but it is a tiny target.
http://www.airspacemag.com/space/search-luna-9-180956252/

 - Ed Kyle

[MattMason]

I look back on this event to consider whether this was the Soviet's last "win" in the Cold War space race.

Perhaps I should consider the Salyut space stations as the more recent win, although not part of the moon race itself.

[plutogno]

Perhaps I should consider the Salyut space stations as the more recent win, although not part of the moon race itself.

and the first landing on Mars (well, sort of...) and on Venus

[Phillip Clark]

Perhaps I should consider the Salyut space stations as the more recent win, although not part of the moon race itself.

and the first landing on Mars (well, sort of...) and on Venus

First spacecraft in lunar orbit (Luna 10).   First recovery of a spacecraft from a circumlunar mission (Zond 5).

[seshagirib]

^The  current ongoing complete dependence of USA on Russia, for any manned flight.

[Svetoslav]

Oh, come on... We're talking about interplanetary probes. Russia doesn't have a successful BEO mission since Phobos 2 in 1989. Their two attempts to launch an interplanetary craft in 1996 and 2011 ended in failures. In fact, Russia is as dependent on other countries to to fly its own instruments to other planets as USA depends on Soyuz spacecraft. Russia has instruments aboard LRO, Mars Odyssey, Curiosity and it's the only option for the country to conduct interplanetary science.

[Blackstar]

Why do these discussions have to turn into appendage-wagging contests?

[geza]

I was almost 10 and started to read serious newspapers that time. The Gemini rendezvous in the previous December, and the Luna 9 moon landig are strong recollections of mine, as front page articles in the newspaper.

[fregate]

Oh, come on... We're talking about interplanetary probes. Russia doesn't have a successful BEO mission since Phobos 2 in 1989. Their two attempts to launch an interplanetary craft in 1996 and 2011 ended in failures. In fact, Russia is as dependent on other countries to to fly its own instruments to other planets as USA depends on Soyuz spacecraft. Russia has instruments aboard LRO, Mars Odyssey, Curiosity and it's the only option for the country to conduct interplanetary science.

Russia does not have any SUCCESSFUL interplanetary mission since 1991 Phobos 1/2 were SOVIET missions. The good news - 5 Lunar missions are planned for next decade (subject to finance approval in March).

[FutureSpaceTourist]

twitter.com/sociostranger/status/1592099653952352259

Luna-9 computer. In case you might need it for some details.

https://twitter.com/sociostranger/status/1592102238897557504

The entire thing.

[catdlr]

First Soft Landing on the Moon: Luna 9