Luna 2 was the the first probe to land on the Moon. Designed in a similar way to Luna 1, it featured protruding antennae, tools, and instruments. After launch on September 12, 1959, Luna 2 separated from its third stage, which would travel along with it to the moon. On September 14, radio signals abruptly stopped, indicating it had impacted the moon, making Luna 2 the first spacecraft to contact a celestial body. It landed on the moon at about 7,400 mph, about 33.7% of its initial velocity.