1970-10-20 USSR Zond 8

Zond-8 flew past the Moon on October 24, 1970, returning to Earth with high-quality photographs, some taken from as near as 1,350 km. It captured 20 images of the full Moon, followed by 78 pictures of the lunar surface, which included 17 shots of Earth seen over the lunar horizon.

1969-08-08 USSR Zond 7

Zond-7 photographed the Earth on August 9, 1969, and performed two photo sessions at the Moon on August 11, 1969.

1968-09-16 USSR Zond 5

On September 15, 1968, the Soviet Union launched Zond 5 on a trajectory that took the probe around the Moon and back to Earth. It splashed down in the Indian Ocean on September 21, 1968, and was recovered by the Russians. Zond 5 carried a biological payload that included two Russian tortoises, fruit flies, mealworms, plants, seeds, bacteria, and other living organisms. After orbiting the Moon, it returned to Earth six days later. The success of Zond 5 increased pressure on the U.S. Apollo program to achieve its landing goal in 1969. There was speculation within NASA and the media that the Soviets might be preparing to launch cosmonauts on a similar circumlunar mission before the end of 1968.

A launch cover for Zond 5, featuring a Tartu postmark dated September 16, 1968.

Photo: An image of Earth captured by Zond-5 on September 21, 1968.

A recovery cover for Zond 5, featuring a Tartu postmark dated September 22, 1968.

(Reference from Zond 5)

1965-07-18 USSR Zond 3

On July 18, 1965, the Soviet Union launched Zond 3, which took numerous high-quality photographs while passing the far side of the Moon and transmitted these images back to Earth nine days later. Following its lunar flyby, the spacecraft entered a solar orbit. Originally, Zond 3 was planned to accompany Zond 2 on a Mars mission during the 1964 launch window, but that opportunity was missed. Instead, Zond 3 was launched on a Mars trajectory as a test for the spacecraft, becoming the second spacecraft to observe the Moon's dark side.

Photo: The dark side of the Moon photographed by Zond 3.