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Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union.

Historical image related to Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union. from January 2, 1959

Luna 1

Soviet spacecraft

Luna 1, also known as Mechta, E-1 No.4 and First Lunar Rover, was the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of Earth's Moon, the first spacecraft to leave Earth's orbit, and the first to be placed in heliocentric orbit. Intended as a Moon impactor, Luna 1 was launched as part…
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Moon

Natural satellite orbiting Earth

The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It orbits around Earth at an average distance of 384,399 kilometres (238,854 mi); about 30 times Earth's diameter. Its orbital period and its rotation period are synchronized at 29.5 days by Earth's gravity pulling on the Moon. This…
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Sun

Star at the centre of the Solar System

The Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System. It is a massive, nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core, radiating the energy from its surface mainly as visible light and infrared radiation with 10% at…
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Soviet Union

Country in Eurasia (1922–1991)

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until it dissolved in 1991. During its existence, it was the largest country by area, extending across eleven time zones and…
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January 2

Day of the year

January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 363 days remain until the end of the year.
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