It's the other moon landing that we do not remember, the time the first man-made object made contact with another celestial body. British and American scientists could only pay generous tribute to what was a Russian achievement.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
And what perfect timing for the Russians. Confirmation the rocket, carrying Soviet emblems, crashed into the moon's surface came less than 48 hours before the Soviet premier, Nikita Khrushchev, was due to land in Washington for talks with president Dwight Eisenhower.
US vice president Richard Nixon said the rocket was "nothing to get hysterical about". That didn't stop The Canberra Times running the story in bold type on its front page on this day 60 years ago today.
But would this rocket give the Russians claim over the moon? Assistant Democractic leader in the US Senate Mike Mansfield conceded it technically would.
However, he added, any claims of sovereignty would be open to serious question "because nobody is accompanying the flag".
In Australia, amateur radio operators tried to pick up the rocket's radio on frequencies of about 20 megacycles, but only a South Australian reported having any luck.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
