When did the Soviet Union launch the first Zond probe?
The Soviet Union launched the first Zond probe on the 2nd of April 1964. This spacecraft carried the name of a program that would eventually split into two distinct lines of development.
Questions about Zond program
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the purpose of the Zond 3 mission in July 1965?
Zond 3 became the second spacecraft to photograph the far side of the Moon after Luna 3. The probe continued its journey beyond lunar orbit toward Mars to test telemetry systems until contact was lost on the 3rd of March 1966.
Which animals orbited the Moon aboard Zond 5 in September 1968?
Zond 5 carried two Russian tortoises into space on the 15th of September 1968. They orbited the Moon and returned safely to Earth on the 21st of September 1968, marking the first time any Earth life circled the Moon and came back alive.
How many flights occurred during the circumlunar testing period between 1967 and 1970?
Fourteen flights occurred during this period including Zond 4 through Zond 8. Most suffered re-entry problems that would have been fatal for human passengers.
Why did the Soviet space agency continue the Zond program despite repeated failures?
Engineers struggled to balance reliability with the urgency of competing against American lunar ambitions. The program pressed forward despite repeated failures with the new Proton rocket and Soyuz variant.