Luna Ye-2 and Ye-3 series, 1959-1960

These series were the second generation of simple, single-module lunar spacecraft, designed for a more complex payload and flight mission. Instead of a direct flight to impact the Moon, they were placed into a highly elliptical orbit that would take them beyond the far side of the Moon, which they would photograph, and upon returning to the vicinity of Farth they would scan and transmit the pictures. The Ye-2 was the first three-axis stabilized spacecraft. It flew to the Moon in spin-stabilized mode, and then switched to three-axis stabilization and control for lunar photography. The Ye – 3 had a modified attitude control system and an improved camera. One Ye-2 and two Ye-3 spacecraft were launched in the six-month period between the start of October 1959 and the end of April 1960 using the Luna launcher. Only the Ye-2 spacecraft, Luna 3, was successful. Both Ye-3 spacecraft were lost to launch vehicle failures.