Lunokhod 1 was the first of two robotic lunar rovers deployed on the Moon by the Soviet Union as part of its Lunokhod program. The Luna 17 spacecraft delivered Lunokhod 1 to the Moon in 1970. It became the first remote-controlled robot "rover" to traverse the surface of an astronomical body beyond Earth, and it was also the first wheeled vehicle to operate on another celestial body. Although it was designed for a mission lasting three lunar days (approximately three Earth months), Lunokhod 1 functioned on the lunar surface for eleven lunar days (321 Earth days) and covered a total distance of 10.54 km.
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| Luna 17 launch cover with Tartu postmark. |
Luna 17 was launched on November 10, 1970, at 14:44:01 UTC. After reaching Earth’s parking orbit, the final stage of the launch rocket ignited to set it on a trajectory toward the Moon (on November 10, 1970, at 14:54 UTC). Following two course correction maneuvers on November 12 and 14, it entered lunar orbit on November 15, 1970, at 22:00 UTC. The spacecraft soft-landed in the Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) on November 17 at 03:47 UTC, landing in the western part of the Mare Imbrium, approximately 60 km south of Promontorium Heraclides. The lander was equipped with dual ramps that allowed its payload, Lunokhod 1, to descend to the lunar surface. At 06:28 UTC, the rover began its descent onto the Moon’s surface. Lunokhod 1 explored the lunar terrain for about a month, utilizing two cycloramic cameras on either side of the rover to capture 180° horizontal panoramas (500 × 3000 pixels). These panoramas are occasionally geometrically corrected to compensate for the 15° tilt of the cameras.
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| A first day cover featuring a stamp of Lunokhod 1. |
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| A postcard featuring Lunokhod 1. |
(Reference from
Lunokhod 1)
