Luna 16

Luna 16 was an uncrewed 1970 space mission, part of the Soviet Luna program. It was the first robotic probe to land on the Moon and return a sample of lunar soil to Earth. The 101 grams (3.56 ounces) sample was returned from Mare Fecunditatis. It represented the first successful lunar sample return mission by the Soviet Union and was the third lunar sample return mission overall.

Luna 16
Luna 16
Mission typeLunar sample return
COSPAR ID1970-072A
SATCAT no.4527
Mission duration12 days
Spacecraft properties
BusYe-8-5
ManufacturerGSMZ Lavochkin
Launch mass5,725 kg (12,621 lb)
Landing mass1,880 kg (4,140 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date12 September 1970, 13:25:52 (1970-09-12UTC13:25:52Z) UTC
RocketProton-K/D
Launch siteBaikonur 81/23
End of mission
Landing date24 September 1970, 05:25 (1970-09-24UTC05:26Z) UTC
Landing site47°24′N 68°36′E
Orbital parameters
Reference systemSelenocentric
Semi-major axis6,488.8 km (4,032.0 mi)
Eccentricity0
Periselene altitude111 km (69 mi)
Aposelene altitude111 km (69 mi)
Inclination70°
Period119 minutes
Epoch18 September 1970
Lunar orbiter
Orbital insertion17 September 1970
Orbits~36
Lunar lander
Landing date20 September 1970, 05:18 UTC
Return launch21 September 1970, 07:43 UTC
Landing site0.5137°S 56.3638°E / -0.5137; 56.3638
Sample mass101 grams (3.6 oz)
Instruments
Stereo photographic imaging system
Remote arm for sample collection
Radiation detector
 
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