1963.4.2 LUNIK 4, the first lunar probe of the second generation in "Lunar Plan" successful landed on the Moon

LUNIK 4 was the successful model spacecraft of the second-generation USSR lunar probe. Unlike other spacecrafts in the past, LUNIK 4 did not fly directly toward the moon. It launched on the earth's orbit first and later traced the curve navigation of rockets to the moon.

LUNIK 4 had the mass of 1,422 kg and the mission had not been proved yet. It was expected that the design of LUNIK was the soft landing on the Moon.

After launching to designed orbit, this space entered to the earth's orbit on April 5, 1963and missed the moon of 8, 300 km. Since April 6, 1963, the space had lost contacts with the ground station.