№ 284/окр. Space Exploration Series. The 50th Anniversary of Launch of the First Artificial Moon Satellite

Luna-10 automatic station was launched from the Baikonur space-vehicle launching site on 31 March 1966 with Molniya-M carrier rocket.

The space vehicle was developed on the basis of Luna-9 automatic station. An attached pressurized module — an artificial Moon satellite — was installed at Luna-10 instead of an automatic lunar station. Its mass amounted to 240 kg, and the very satellite was equipped with a scientific research apparatus.

Luna-10's active shelf life was 56 days. Over this period, it made 460 orbits around the Moon and conducted 219 communication sessions with the Earth.

The scientists managed to undertake a whole set of studies and to receive photos of the far side of the Moon during the satellite’s circumlunar orbital flight.

The postcard with an original stamp depicts a symbolic image of a carrier rocket being launched into space. The main image features the Luna 10 automatic interplanetary station, which became the world’s first artificial Moon satellite.