Luna 1, known as the first spacecraft to reach lunar proximity, was launched by the Soviet Union on January 2, 1959. The spacecraft was initially intended to crash land on the Moon, but in its trajectory, it overshot the target and entered a heliocentric orbit around the Sun. This approach provided a significant opportunity for scientists to study cosmic radiation and other phenomena in space. It was equipped with scientific instruments, including a magnetometer and an array of sensors to measure cosmic rays.

The spacecraft traveled approximately 596,000 kilometers from Earth before reaching its closest point to the Moon. On January 4, it passed within 5,995 kilometers of the lunar surface, providing valuable data about the Moon’s gravitational field and radiation environment. This flyby also affirmed the Soviet Union's dominant position in early space exploration during the Cold War, showcasing their advancements in rocket technology and engineering.

Luna 1's journey was significant as it demonstrated the feasibility of space missions beyond Earth, inspiring subsequent missions that would lead to eventual human landings on the Moon and further exploration of our solar system. It was a precursor to the series of successful lunar exploration attempts that would follow in the 1960s, including the Luna 2, which became the first human-made object to impact the Moon later that same year.