1959

Luna 1 (E-1 series) was the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon

Spacecraft Name	Type	Launch Date	Date of Lunar Encounter	Country	Launcher	Comments
Luna 1	Lunar Flyby	January 2, 1959 at 16:41:21 UTC	January 4, 1959	USSR	SS-6/R-7 (8K72)	closest distance 5,995 km, impact intended
Luna 2	Lunar Impact	September 12, 1959 at 06:39:42 UTC	September 14, 1959, 22:02:24 UTC	USSR	SS-6/R-7 (8K72)	Landing coordinates: 29.1° N, 0° W.
Luna 3	Lunar Flyby	October 4, 1959 at 02:24:00 UTC	October 6, 1959, 14:16 UTC	USSR	SS-6/R-7 (8K72)	first image of the far side of the Moon; closest distance of 6,200 km near south pole