Luna 9 was a Soviet spacecraft that made history on February 3, 1966, by becoming the first spacecraft to achieve a soft landing on the Moon. It transmitted the first images from the lunar surface back to Earth, providing valuable data about the Moon's terrain and environment. The mission was part of the Luna program, which aimed to explore the Moon and gather scientific information. Luna 9's successful landing marked a significant milestone in space exploration and demonstrated the capabilities of robotic missions in studying celestial bodies.