The book talks about one of the brightest trends in the history of unmanned astronautics - the creation and development of lunar projects and their implementation in the Soviet Union. As a background for this, the author chose an essay about the stages that preceded this, about the figures and achievements of Russian scientists and engineers in the 19th-20th centuries, about the powerful development of rocket research in the period before the Second World War and especially after its completion. A special place is given to the activities of Soviet scientific and industrial organizations, military institutions and structures during the preparation and implementation of lunar missions.