THE FIRST SOVIET LUNAR FLIGHTS

摘要

The Paper is devoted to an analysis of the First Soviet Pioneer Lunar Spacecrafts (SC). This is the SC Luna 1 (January, 1959, "Mechta" – "A Dream") with the first close flyby of the Moon and scientific investigation of the near-Moon space, the first artificial planet. Then, this is the SC Luna 2 (September, 1959) with the first impacting the lunar surface and investigating the near-Moon vicinity to its surface. And, finally, this is the automatic interplanetary station Luna 3 (October, 1959), which made the first photos of the far Lunar side and successfully sent them to the Soviet Control Ground Station. The first Lunar Gravity Assist was performed in this flight to fulfill the aims which were put to the station. There is given an analysis of the Soviet science-technology achievements that allowed realizing these outstanding Projects. There is analyzed their influence on the development of the world Cosmonautics including the first manned flight of Jury Gagarin and following Lunar and interplanetary Projects.