The Soviets Also Landed on the Moon – Lunokhod 1: The First Tire Tracks in Space

The Luna Cod 1 made history as the first remote-controlled robot rover to freely roam the surface of the Moon, also known as Moonwalker 1. This technological marvel, designated device 8EL number 203, was developed as part of the Soviet Union’s Luna Cod program, which initially aimed to support human Moon missions. Launched aboard the Luna 17 spacecraft in November 1970, the Luna Cod 1 arrived at the Moon, where it achieved significant scientific milestones.

Designed to last for only three lunar days (roughly 90 Earth days), the Luna Cod 1 far surpassed expectations, operating for an astonishing 11 lunar days, nearly a full Earth year. The rover covered a distance of 11 kilometers across the rocky lunar surface, sending back over 20,000 images and 200 high-fidelity panoramas, contributing invaluable data to scientific research. Unfortunately, contact with the rover was abruptly lost on September 14, 1971, the anniversary of Sputnik 1’s launch, and despite numerous attempts, Soviet efforts to reconnect with Luna Cod 1 failed.

Decades later, in 2010, an unexpected discovery stunned scientists. American and French researchers, conducting lunar research, detected an unknown object buried on the Moon. It turned out to be the Luna Cod 1, and to their surprise, its signal was stronger than ever, a relic of the Cold War making an extraordinary return.

The Luna Cod program was part of the larger Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union. While the arms race fueled military innovation, the space race became a more peaceful but fiercely competitive front. The Soviet Union achieved early milestones in space exploration, such as sending the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space in 1961. However, the United States ultimately triumphed in 1969 when Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon.

In response to the US victory, the Soviets launched the Luna Cod program to demonstrate their ongoing capabilities in space exploration. The Luna Cod program’s goal was to send remote-controlled robotic rovers to the Moon, following the failure of manned lunar landing ambitions. The first prototype, Luna Cod 0, was destroyed during launch in 1969, but subsequent models, including Luna Cod 1, successfully completed their missions.

The Luna Cod 1 rover was a feat of engineering, equipped with a variety of scientific instruments, including cameras, a cosmic ray detector, and a laser reflector to measure distances between the Earth and Moon. Its hermetically sealed body and radio isotope heater allowed it to survive the extreme cold of the lunar night. Despite the technical challenges, the rover proved remarkably resilient, exceeding its projected lifespan and continuing to operate long after its expected end.

After Luna Cod 1’s contact was lost in 1971, the Soviet Union shifted focus to other projects, and the rover faded into obscurity. However, 40 years later, scientists were stunned to make contact with the long-lost relic. In 2010, a team of researchers used a laser telescope at the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico to send pulses of light toward the coordinates of Luna Cod 1. To their amazement, the rover responded, sending back a clear signal after almost four decades of silence.

The rediscovery of Luna Cod 1 marked a significant moment in the history of space exploration. Its successful communication with Earth allowed researchers to continue studying the Moon and even test Einstein’s theory of general relativity using lunar laser ranging. The rover’s legacy lived on, inspiring future lunar missions, including China’s Chang’e-3 in 2013, which surpassed the Luna Cod 1’s operational record.

The Luna Cod 1’s remarkable journey from its initial mission to its unexpected return nearly four decades later highlights the enduring power of space exploration, even in the face of political and technological challenges. Its story serves as a testament to the Soviet Union’s ambitious space program and the lasting impact of the Cold War rivalry on space exploration.