View source for Luna 9

== Surface operations ==
[[file:Luna-9 model.jpg|left|thumb|Luna 9 lander model]]
[[file:First Photo from the Surface of the Moon.jpg|right|thumb|The first photo ever taken from the surface of another celestial body.]]
Approximately 250 seconds after landing in the [[Oceanus Procellarum]], four petals that covered the top half of the spacecraft opened outward for increased stability. Seven hours after (to allow for the Sun to climb to 7° elevation) the probe began sending the first of nine images (including five panoramas) of the surface of the Moon. Seven radio sessions with a total of 8 hours and 5 minutes were transmitted, as well as a series of three TV pictures. After assembly the photographs gave a panoramic view of the immediate lunar surface, comprising views of nearby rocks and of the horizon, {{convert|1.4|km|mi}} away.<ref name="NSSDC1966-006A"/>

The pictures from ''Luna 9'' were not released immediately by the Soviet authorities, but scientists at [[Jodrell Bank Observatory]] in England, which was monitoring the craft, noticed that the signal format used was identical to the internationally agreed [[Radiofax]] system used by newspapers for transmitting pictures. The ''[[Daily Express]]'' rushed a suitable receiver to the Observatory and the pictures from ''Luna 9'' were decoded and published worldwide.<ref>''[[Daily Express]]'' [http://proftimobrien.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Luna9-DailyExpress.jpg front page Saturday February 5 1966]</ref> The [[BBC]] speculated that the spacecraft's designers deliberately fitted the probe with equipment conforming to the standard, to enable reception of the pictures by Jodrell Bank Observatory.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/3/newsid_4063000/4063471.stm BBC On This Day | 3 | 1966: Soviets land probe on Moon<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The radiation detector, the only dedicated scientific instrument on board, measured dosage of 30 millirads (0.3 [[gray (unit)|milligrays]]) per day.<ref>[https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/experiment/display.action?id=1966-006A-02 NSSDCA ID: 1966-006A-02]</ref> The mission also determined that a spacecraft would not sink into the [[Lunar soil|lunar dust]]; that the ground could support a lander. The last contact with the spacecraft was at 22:55 GMT on 6 February 1966.<ref name="NSSDC1966-006A"/>