Issued in 1959, this remarkable 2-stamp set from the Soviet Union commemorates the historic Luna 1 mission—the world’s first spacecraft to escape Earth’s gravity and approach the Moon. The blue 40 kopeks stamp illustrates the rocket’s flight path from Moscow across the globe toward space, while the red 40 kopeks issue shows its trajectory past the Moon. Both designs mark dates from January 2–5, 1959, highlighting the Soviet Union’s pioneering role in early space exploration. A prized issue for collectors of space-themed philately, celebrating a milestone that began humanity’s journey beyond Earth.