Luna 1958A , also known as Luna E-1 No.1 , was a Soviet lunar probe and was supposed to be the first spacecraft ever to overcome the earth's gravitational field and hit the moon hard . Due to resonant vibrations in the longitudinal axis of the boosters, the rocket broke 92 seconds after launch, and the probe did not reach space. It was planned to emit one kilogram of sodium on the flight to the moon , which would form a cloud that was visible from Earth. So one wanted to follow the path of the probe. Three more E-1 missions followed, only the last one being a partial success, as the earth's gravitational field was overcome but the moon was missed.
Soviet Union
