Luna 20
Luna 20 was the second of three successful Soviet lunar sample return missions. It was flown as part of the Luna program as a robotic competitor to the six successful Apollo lunar sample return missions.
Luna 20 descent stage as seen from orbit by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2010 | |
| Mission type | Lunar sample return |
|---|---|
| COSPAR ID | 1972-007A |
| SATCAT no. | 5835 |
| Mission duration | 11 days (day of launch to day of landing) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Ye-8-5 |
| Manufacturer | GSMZ Lavochkin |
| Launch mass | 5,725 kilograms (12,621 lb) |
| Dry mass | 5,600 kilograms (12,300 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 14 February 1972, 03:27:58 UTC |
| Rocket | Proton-K/D |
| Launch site | Baikonur 81/24 |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | 25 February 1972, 19:19 UTC |
| Landing site | 47°24′N 68°36′E, 40 km north of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Selenocentric |
| Semi-major axis | 6,477.8 kilometres (4,025.1 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.0 |
| Periselene altitude | 100 kilometres (62 mi) |
| Aposelene altitude | 100 kilometres (62 mi) |
| Inclination | 65 degrees |
| Period | 119 minutes |
| Lunar orbiter | |
| Orbits | ~36 |
| Lunar lander | |
| Landing date | 21 February 1972, 19:19 UTC |
| Return launch | 22 February 1972, 22:58 UTC |
| Landing site | 3.7863°N 56.6242°E |
| Sample mass | 55 grams |
Luna 20 was placed in an intermediate Earth parking orbit and from this orbit was sent towards the Moon. It entered lunar orbit on 18 February 1972. On 21 February 1972, Luna 20 soft landed on the Moon in a mountainous area known as the Terra Apollonius (or Apollonius highlands) near Mare Fecunditatis (Sea of Fertility), 120 km from where Luna 16 had landed.
While on the lunar surface, the panoramic television system was operated. Lunar samples were obtained by means of an extendable drilling apparatus. The ascent stage of Luna 20 was launched from the lunar surface on 22 February 1972 carrying 1.9 ounces (55 grams) of collected lunar samples in a sealed capsule. It landed in the Soviet Union on 25 February 1972. The lunar samples were recovered the following day.