Luna 1 was the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon, launched by the Soviet Union on January 2, 1959. It was designed to impact the Moon but instead entered a heliocentric orbit around the Sun. This mission marked a significant milestone in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. The spacecraft carried scientific instruments to study cosmic rays, solar wind, and magnetic fields. Although it did not achieve its primary goal of impacting the Moon, Luna 1 provided valuable data and demonstrated the feasibility of interplanetary travel, paving the way for future lunar missions.