1959 in spaceflight

1959 in spaceflight

Luna 2 became the first spacecraft to reach the surface of the Moon in September
Orbital launches
First	2 January
Last	26 November
Total	23
Successes	10
Failures	11
Partial failures	2
Catalogued	14
Rockets
Maiden flights	Thor-Agena Atlas-Able Atlas D (suborbital test)
Retirements	Vanguard

Luna 1 was the first spacecraft to leave the gravitational influence of Earth.