1962 Coopers Tea : Do You Know?

Do You Know? trading cards were issued in 1962 by Cooper & Co. Ltd. Glasgow Northwest, Scotland. The 50-card series presents information on a wide variety of scientific subjects. One card was included with each box of Coppers Tea. Each card measures approximately 1.46 x 2.67 inches (37 x 68 mm). A collector album was sold separately at grocers and by mail order for six pence.

Card #14, "The Moon," depicts the Soviet Ye-2A No. 1 lunar probe, commonly known as Luna 3 (Луна 3). The spacecraft was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard Luna 8K72 (I1-8) on October 4, 1959.

The Luna 3 probe captured the first photographs of the far side of the Moon on October 7, 1959. The onboard camera took 29 pictures of the lunar surface. The physical photographs were chemically developed and electronically scanned by the onboard systems. The probe transmitted 17 frames to Soviet tracking stations on Earth.

The camera film was resistant to extreme temperature changes and cosmic radiation. The film was created by the United States Strategic Air Command for Project Genetrix, a high-altitude spy balloon program. The U.S. recovered 51 of the 512 surveillance cameras launched from January–February 1956. Many of the gondolas were detected by Soviet radar and shot down by MiG fighter jets.

The Luna 3 spacecraft performed the first gravity assist maneuver and returned to Earth orbit. All contact was lost on October 22, 1959.

Luna 3 Moon Frame 29, October 7, 1959