1988 Death Renato Salvatori, actor (Burn, Luna, 2 Women), dies 1976 Event U.S.S.R.'s Luna 24 soft-lands on Moon 1976 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 24, last Lunar flight to date from Earth 1974 Event Luna 23 launched (landing on Moon) 1973 Event Luna 21 launched, to Moon 1973 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 21 for Moon landing 1972 Event Luna 20 (Russia) launched to orbit and soft landing on Moon 1970 Event Luna 17, with unmanned self-propelled Lunokhod 1, is launched 1970 Event Soviet Luna 16 lands on earth after 1st unmanned round trip to moon 1970 Event Luna 16 leaves Moon 1970 Event Luna 16 lands on Moon's Mare Fecunditatis, drills core sample 1970 Event Luna 16 Launch (Moon Sample Return) 1970 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 16; returns samples from lunar Sea of Fertility 1969 Event Russia's Luna 15 impacts moon after 52 lunar orbits 1969 Event Russia launches unmanned Luna 15 to Moon 1966 Event Luna 13 lands on Moon 1966 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 13; soft-landed in Oceanus Procellarum 1966 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 12 for orbit around Moon 1966 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 11 for orbit around Moon 1966 Event Luna 10 orbits Moon 1966 Event Soviet Union's Luna 10 becomes 1st spacecraft to orbit Moon 1966 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 10, 1st lunar orbiter 1966 Event 1st soft landing on Moon (Soviet Luna 9) 1966 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 9 towards Moon 1965 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 8; crashes on Moon 1965 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 7; crash lands on Moon 1965 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 6; missed Moon 1965 Event Luna 5 launched (U.S.S.R.) 1st attempt to soft land on Moon (fails) 1965 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 5; later impacts on Moon 1963 Event U.S.S.R. launches Luna 4; missed Moon by 8,500 km 1963 Event Soviet Luna (4) reaches Earth orbit but fails to reach Moon 1959 Event Far side of Moon seen for 1st time, compliments of U.S.S.R.'s Luna 3 1959 Event Soviet Luna 3, 1st successful photographic spacecraft, impacts Moon 1959 Event U.S.S.R. Luna 3 sent back 1st photos of Moon's far side 1959 Event U.S.S.R.'s Luna 2 becomes 1st probe to contact another celestial body 1959 Event Luna 2 launched by U.S.S.R.; 1st spacecraft to impact on Moon 1959 Event Luna 1, Mechta, becomes 1st craft to leave Earth's gravity 1959 Event U.S.S.R. launches Mechta, Luna 1, for 1st lunar fly-by, 1st solar orbit 1958 Birthday Fernando Luna, born in Cuidad Real, Spain, tennis player, highest singles ATP-ranking was 33rd in 1984 1955 Birthday Lucia Mendez, Mexico, spanish singer, Lucia es Luna Moreno 1946 Birthday Bigas Luna, director and writer, Anguish 1942 Death Pablo Luna y Carne, composer, dies at 61 1939 Birthday Barbara Luna, born in New York City, actress, 5 Weeks in a Balloon, Gentle Savage 1880 Birthday Pablo Luna y Carne, composer 1866 Birthday Paul Lincke, German composer and conductor /publisher, Frau Luna 1559 Event Spanish explorer de Luna lands in Pensacola Bay,Fla 1423 Death Benedict XIII, Pedro the Luna, Spanish Pope (1394-1423), dies 1394 Event Cardinal Pedro de Luna of Aragon chosen (anti)pope Benedictus XIII
