The name of the first man-made object to land on the Moon is Luna 2. Launched by the Soviet Union on September 12, 1959, it became the first spacecraft to reach the Moon's surface, impacting it on September 12, 1959. Luna 2 was instrumental in the early space race, paving the way for future lunar exploration, including crewed missions. It carried scientific instruments to study cosmic rays, magnetic fields, and other celestial phenomena, marking a significant achievement in the history of space exploration. Luna 2's success set the stage for future missions that would eventually lead to humans landing on the Moon in 1969.