The Luna program: new info

• Long-rumoured 1958 launch attempts confirmed: first try in Sep 1958, a month after first Pioneer launch failure

• Object E-1, 1958-1959 - 6 launches, 2 successes

• Previously unsuspected Apr 1960 launch attempts were “E-3” Luna-3 circumlunar photo follow-ons

• E-3 No. 1 reached 200000 km apogee but was not tracked by USA

• Next series was E-6 landers, starting in 1963