← All launches
Launch FailureSoviet Space Program

Vostok-L 8K72: Luna-4b

Luna 1960B was the third Soviet attempt to photograph the far side of the Moon, the first being the highly successful Luna 3 mission and the second being the unsuccessful Luna 1960A. Luna 1960B was launched on April 16, 1960. It was designed to replicate the Luna 3 mission, but with higher resolution cameras and a closer approach to the Moon.

Saturday, 16 April 1960
Vostok-L 8K72: Luna-4b

Mission Data

Soviet Space Program
🇷🇺Soviet Space ProgramEst. 1931
Launch VehicleVostok-L 8K72
Vehicle FamilyVostok
Vehicle Record3 of 9 launches (33.3%)
Provider TypeGovernment
Agency Record2288 successes / 168 failures (93%)
Success Streak17 consecutive
ProgramLuna · Exploration
Mission TypeLunar Exploration
Target OrbitLunar flyby
Launch Pad1/5
Location🇰🇿 Baikonur Cosmodrome, Republic of Kazakhstan KAZ
Orbital Launches This Year#10
Agency Launches This Year#2
Launches From This Pad487
Launches From This Site1,565
Status Note

Either the launch vehicle did not reach orbit, or the payload(s) failed to separate.

About Vostok-L 8K72

The Vostok-L was a rocket used by the Soviet Union to conduct several early tests of the Vostok spacecraft

Launch Site

1/5 · 45.9200°N 63.3420°E

Launch data from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs.