Audio Tapes of Failed Soviet Robot Lander Attempting to Scoop Apollo 11

A set of previously unheard recordings of the former Soviet Union’s attempt to robotically beat out the Apollo 11 landing in July 1969 have been released by Jodrell Bank’s Center for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom.

In July 1969 the telescopes at Jodrell Bank were tracking the progress of Apollo 11's mission.

But at the same time Jodrell Bank scientists were also tracking the robotic Soviet spacecraft Luna 15, which was attempting to land on the Moon, collect samples of lunar soil and rock and then return to Earth to, quite literally, scoop the U.S. Apollo 11 mission.

In the newly released recordings, which were made over three days in July of 1969, Sir Bernard Lovell, founder of the Jodrell Bank Observatory, can be heard narrating events. Transmissions from the Apollo 11 astronauts can also be heard in the background as can the Luna 15 lander.

The Soviet robot craft crashed onto the lunar surface while attempting a landing.

The just issued recordings of the Soviet Union’s failed attempt can be heard here:

http://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/news/2009/luna15-apollo11/