12+ hour, 54+ min ago   (59+ words) Feb. 3, 1966: Luna 9 successfully lands'astronomy.com On Jan. 31, 1966, the Soviets launched Luna 9 from Baikonur Cosmodrome with a plan to land on the surface of the Moon. Missions in the three previous years had been fraught, with Luna 4 and 6 missing the Moon…...