Exploring the Moon on stamps
The first robot explorers
Exploring the Moon on stamps
Background image:
The waning crescent Moon.
1959 Russia 40k
Luna 1 trajectory from Earth past the Moon. The trajectory of the rocket, the
orbit of the Moon, and the positions of the Moon at time of launch and fly-past
are indicated.
SG 2332
1959 Russia 40k
Symbolic representation of the trajectory of Luna 2 from the Earth to its impact
on the Moon.
SG 2393
1959 Russia 40k
Realistic representation of the trajectory of Luna 2 from the Earth to the Moon.
SG 2394
1959 East Germany 20pf
Luna 2 impacts the Moon in the Palus Putredinis region of eastern Mare Imbrium.
Here, the Moon is oriented with south at the top, as seen through an
astronomical telescope. SG E454
1959 Russia 40k
Ground tracks of Luna 1 over a period of three days following its launch. The
launch site (Baikonur) is not accurately indicated as its location was still
secret.
SG 2333
1959 Russia 40k
Trajectory of Luna 3 from Earth around the Moon and back again. The date of
launch, 4 October 1959, is inscribed at the top. Strangely, this stamp was
issued before the two stamps featuring its predecessor Luna 2 which are next on
our list.
SG 2385
Click on a stamp for an enlargement on a new page
1959 Hungary 60f
Luna 1 heading for the Moon (although it actually missed).
SG 1556
1959 Hungary 60f
The Luna 1 stamp (above) needed to be modified only slightly to commemorate the
success of Luna 2. It was overprinted with the time of lunar impact.
SG 1605
