Remembering 60 years since humanity first touched the surface of another planet https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/07/60_years_since_humanity_touched/ On 1 Mar 1966, the USSR's "Venera 3, sterilized before launch to avoid contamination from Earth, that was the first to touch the surface of another planet, even if the mission did not go entirely to plan." #space