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Luna 16

File:Luna_16.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ858293· pop 39· linked from 335 articles

space probe

Key facts

Mission type
Lunar sample return
Operator
Soviet space program
Cospar id
1970-072A
Mission duration
12 days
Bus
Ye-8-5
Manufacturer
GSMZ Lavochkin
Launch mass
5,725 kg (12,621 lb)
Landing mass
1,880 kg (4,140 lb)
Launch date
12 September 1970, 13:25:52 ( 1970-09-12UTC13:25:52Z ) UTC
Rocket
Proton-K / D
Launch site
Baikonur 81/23
Landing date
24 September 1970, 05:25 ( 1970-09-24UTC05:26Z ) UTC
Landing site
47°24′N 68°36′E / 47.400°N 68.600°E / 47.400; 68.600
Reference system
Selenocentric
Semi major axis
6,488.8 km (4,032.0 mi)
Periselene altitude
111 km (69 mi)
Aposelene altitude
111 km (69 mi)
Inclination
70°

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Image
Luna 16 Space Probe 01.jpg
Show 3 more facts
UTC date of spacecraft landing
1970-09-20
Commons category
Luna 16
UTC date of spacecraft launch
1970-09-12
Sources (1)

via Wikidata · CC0

~6 min read

Article

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.

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