On February 3, 1966, the Soviet Union accomplished the first
controlled landing on the moon, when the unmanned spacecraft
Lunik 9 touches down on the Ocean of Storms.

After its soft landing, the circular capsule opened like a flower,
deploying its antennas, and began transmitting photographs
and television images back to Earth. The 220-pound landing
capsule was launched from Earth on January 31.

Lunik 9 was the third major lunar first for the Soviet space
program: On September 14, 1959, Lunik 2 became the first
manmade object to reach the moon when it impacted with
the lunar surface, and on October 7 of the same year Lunik
3 flew around the moon and transmitted back to Earth the
first images of the far side of the moon.

The first views from the Moon’s surface taken by the Soviet
Luna 9  lander, captured on Feb. 4, 1966.