Luna 2
Luna 2 was a Soviet spacecraft that became the first human-made object to impact the Moon in 1959.
Also known as: Lunik 2, Second Soviet Cosmic Rocket
How big is it?
90 cm · spherical bus diameter
Spherical bus diameter · approximate
A little perspective
Luna 2 vs Human leg: length comparison
The hip-to-heel length of the human leg is about 1.11 times the spherical bus diameter of Luna 2.
Luna 2 was a Soviet spacecraft that became the first human-made object to impact the Moon in 1959.
The human leg is the lower limb extending from the hip to the heel, enabling standing and movement.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions. Horizontal rulers compare the selected spans; vertical brackets also identify height on the artwork.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Luna 2
Spherical bus diameter: 90 cm; approximate.
Luna 2 used an approximately 0.9 m spherical spacecraft bus and had a mass of about 390.2 kg. Antennas and scientific booms extend beyond the calibrated body diameter.
The marked spherical bus diameter is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Human leg
Defined hip-to-heel length: 1 m; representative model; range 85 cm–1.1 m.
One complete leg in a defined 70 kg adult model: 1.0 m from hip to heel and 11.68 kg, using published thigh, shank and foot mass fractions. This is a comparison model, not a population average.
de Leva — Adjustments to Zatsiorsky-Seluyanov segment inertia parameters
The marked defined hip-to-heel length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
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Why this measurement?
Why we use 90 cm
We compare the spherical bus diameter of Luna 2. This is an estimate; check the notes for its rounding and uncertainty.
Luna 2 used an approximately 0.9 m spherical spacecraft bus and had a mass of about 390.2 kg. Antennas and scientific booms extend beyond the calibrated body diameter.
The marked horizontal span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 cm | Not recorded | approximate | |
| 390.2 kg | Not recorded | approximate |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valuePlanets, moons and spaceSputnik 158 cmPressurised sphere diameterSputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite launched into Earth orbit by the Soviet Union in 1957.
Around the same scaleEveryday objectsSquare shower tray90 cmLengthA square shower tray is a flat, waterproof base installed in a shower to collect and drain water.
Nearest higher valueSport and equipmentHurling stick91 cmDefined adult hurley lengthA hurling stick, or hurley, is a wooden stick used to strike a ball in the Irish field sport of hurling.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- NASA NSSDC — Luna 2Mission identity, spacecraft mass and spherical-bus configuration.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
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