Science: First to the Far Side

Lunik III rounded the moon and this week started its slow turn back
toward the earth, just as the Russians said it would.

The Russian space vehicle skimmed past the moon at a distance of 4,300
miles, then moved on into space, gradually slowing down. As it passed.
Lunik III was deflected by the moon's gravity, which made it veer in
the moon's direction, like a child swinging on a gatepost. But the tug
was not enough to make it curve sharply and start right back. Instead,
it swung out 67,000 miles beyond the moon's orbit (and 292,000 miles
from the earth);...