Lunahkods were trundling around the Moon back in 1970, sending back pictures.
Minor correction, that was around 1980. Of course I don't recall that here in the USA there was a whole lot said about them. After all they were Russian, not American.
They were still impressive. In fact I have a picture of one on my computer desktop.
Bill Gill
Mike Kremer reply to Bill Gill.
I was working in the US and Canada from 1955 until 1975 (wonderful countries-both)
I think you are correct, very little if nothing, was ever mentioned in the US press about the Russian Lunahkov I Moon landing. I dont ever remember its mention in the press at that time. But it was in 1970.
But there was a huge technical and political competition in the Space Race ever since the Russians launched the first animal, the dog LAIKA into space to orbit the Earth hundreds of times.
That was back in 1957,....and it certainly did make the Americans sit up and take notice. My US employers at that time suggested to us/me that we should stock up on tinned food from the Supermarket, and store it in a garage or in our cars,
...ready to move out....should the 'beeps' increase or stop.
Yes there was quite a bit of paranoia going on for a few days,
over the orbit of Laika and what else the Russkies might send up to fly over the USA.
Once the American SurveyorI landed upon the moon in 1966, with
President J.F Kennedy blessing, things normalized somewhat.
Of course Surveyor I, back in 1966 was a fixture, having no movement, so it was no wonder the Lunahkod, the first remote controlled vehicle to land and move on another world was under reported by the Americans, four years later in 1970.
After Surveyor the World swiftly aknowledged that the US had caught up, surpassed, and won the Space Race.
One interesting fact I do remember at the time, was the Russian Embassy presenting one of LAIKA's puppys to Pres: John F Kennedy, who accepted the little mutt graciously. Hmmmm??
