Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

To gain insight on how the Soviet Union built moon-bound gear, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) carried out a covert spy job on a Soviet exhibit in 1959.

A CIA action team dismantled a “Lunik 2” exhibit to document what techniques and technologies were used by the Soviet Union.

Stealthy spy operation

Years later, that secretive act was detailed by the CIA and ballyhooed as a stealthy spy operation that was done unbeknownst to the Soviet Union.

The unusual overnight caper by the CIA involved Soviet upper stage space hardware that was being toted around as part of an exhibition to promote Soviet industrial and economic achievements.

For more details, go to my new Space.com story – “How the CIA ‘kidnapped’ a Soviet moon probe during the space race” – at:

https://www.space.com/how-the-cia-kidnapped-a-soviet-moon-probe-during-the-space-race