NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Luna programme

The Luna programme (occasionally called Lunik) was a series of unmanned space missions sent to the Moon by the Soviet Union between 1959 and 1976. Fifteen were successful, each designed as either an orbiter or lander, and accomplished many firsts in space exploration. They also performed many experiments, studying the Moon's chemical composition, gravity, temperature, and radiation. Twenty-four spacecraft were formally given the Luna designation, although more were launched. Those which failed to reach orbit were not publicly acknowledged at the time and not assigned a Luna number and ones which failed in low Earth orbit were usually given Cosmos designations[1]. It has been suggested that Space probe be merged into this article or section. ... Adjective lunar Bulk silicate composition (estimated wt%) SiO2 44. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... A chemical substance is any material substance used in or obtained by a process in chemistry: A chemical compound is a substance consisting of two or more chemical elements that are chemically combined in fixed proportions. ... Gravity is a force of attraction that acts between bodies that have mass. ... Fig. ... Radiation in physics is the process of emitting energy in the form of waves or particles. ...

Luna 1 missed its intended impact with the Moon and became the first spacecraft to fall into orbit around the Sun. In 1959, the Luna 2 mission successfully impacted upon the lunar surface, becoming the first man-made object to reach the Moon. Luna 3 rounded the Moon later that year, and returned the first photographs of its far side, which can never be seen from Earth. Luna 1 is the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and the first of the Luna programme of Soviet automatic interplanetary stations successfully launched in the direction of the Moon. ... Luna 2 (E-1A series) was the second of the Soviet Unions Luna program spacecraft launched in the direction of the Moon. ... The lunar surface (or the surface of the moon) differs greatly from that of the Earth. ... Luna 3, an automatic interplanetary station of the Luna program, was the third spacecraft successfully launched to the Moon and the first to return images of the lunar far side. ... Far side of the Moon. ... Earth (IPA: , often referred to as the Earth, Terra, the World or Planet Earth) is the third planet in the solar system in terms of distance from the Sun, and the fifth largest. ...

Luna 9 became the first probe to achieve a soft landing on another planetary body (February 1966). It returned five black and white stereoscopic circular panoramas, which were the first close-up shots of the Lunar surface. Later that year Luna 10 became the first artificial satellite of the Moon. Luna 9 was an unmanned space mission of the Soviet Unions Luna program. ... Luna 10 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 10. ...

Luna 17 and Luna 21 even carried roving vehicles which roamed around on the Moon's terrain (see Lunokhod programme). Luna 17 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 17. ... Luna 21 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 21. ... Lunokhod series Soviet Moon exploration robot vehicle A panorama shot from Lunokhod 1 Lunokhod (Russian for Moon walker) 1 and 2 were a pair of unmanned lunar rovers landed on the Moon by the Soviet Union. ...

Another major achievement of the Luna programme was the ability to collect samples of lunar soil and return them to Earth, by 1970. Lunar soil is defined as that found on the surface of the Moon. ...

The Apollo missions, however, returned much more Moon soil. The Soviet program returned 0.326 kg of lunar samples while the US program returned over 480 kg, some selected on-site by a geologist. However, robotic exploration is the current mainstream of Solar System research. Late Luna missions were the first advanced missions of the kind. Description Role: Earth and Lunar Orbit Crew: 3; CDR, CM pilot, LM pilot Dimensions Height: 36. ... Lunar Ferroan Anorthosite #60025 (Plagioclase Feldspar). ...

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1100x1070, 287 KB) Map shows landing sites of Surveyor, Apollo and Luna missions source: http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1100x1070, 287 KB) Map shows landing sites of Surveyor, Apollo and Luna missions source: http://www. ... Luna 1958A (E-1 series) was the first Soviet spacecraft which was using for mission to the Moon. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... October 11 is the 284th day of the year (285th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Luna 1958C (E-1 series) was the third Soviet spacecraft which was used for mission to the Moon. ... December 4 is the 338th day of the year (339th on leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Luna 1 is the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and the first of the Luna programme of Soviet automatic interplanetary stations successfully launched in the direction of the Moon. ... January 2 is the second day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Luna 2. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Luna 2 (E-1A series) was the second of the Soviet Unions Luna program spacecraft launched in the direction of the Moon. ... Portal:Currentevents September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 14 is the 257th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (258th in leap years). ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Palus Putredinus (latin for Marsh of Decay) is an area of the lunar surface that stretches from Archimedes crater southeast toward the rugged Montes Apenninus range. ... Luna 3, an automatic interplanetary station of the Luna program, was the third spacecraft successfully launched to the Moon and the first to return images of the lunar far side. ... October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Luna 1960A (E-3 series) was the second Soviet attempt to photograph the far side of the Moon. ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... Luna 1960B (E-3 series) was the third Soviet attempt to photograph the far side of the Moon. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... The mission of the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 25 was an attempted lunar soft landing, with the purpose of returning data on the mechanical characteristics of the lunar surface, the hazards presented by the topology such as craters, rocks, and other obstructions, and radiation, in preparation for future manned landings. ... January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Luna 1963B (E-6 series) was the second Soviet attempt to land an unmanned spacecraft on the Moon. ... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Luna 4 was the USSRs first successful spacecraft of their second generation Luna program. ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Luna 1964A (E-6 series) was the fourth Soviet attempt to land an unmanned spacecraft on the Moon. ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Luna 1964B (E-6 series) was the fifth Soviet attempt to land an unmanned spacecraft on the Moon. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... The Cosmos 60 probe, launched by the Soviet Union on March 12, 1965, was intended to be a lunar soft-landing mission, with a design similar to that of Luna 4. ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (72nd in leap years). ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Luna 1965A (E-6 series) was the seventh Soviet attempt to land an unmanned spacecraft on the Moon. ... April 10 is the 100th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (101st in leap years). ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Luna 5 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 5. ... May 9 is the 129th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (130th in leap years). ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... The Sea of Clouds of the Moon. ... Luna 6 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 6. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Luna 7 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 7. ... October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... The Ocean of Storms of the Moon. ... Luna 8 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 8. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Luna 9 was an unmanned space mission of the Soviet Unions Luna program. ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... The Ocean of Storms of the Moon. ... Luna 10 spacecraft. ... March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Luna 10 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 10. ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Luna 1966A was the third Soviet attempt to orbit a spacecraft around the Moon (the first attempt being the unsuccessful Cosmos 111 mission and the second being the successful Luna 10 mission). ... April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Luna 11 was an unmanned space mission of the Soviet Unions Luna program. ... August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Luna 12 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 12. ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Luna 13 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 13. ... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (359th in leap years). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Luna 1968A (E-6LS series) was a Soviet attempt to orbit a spacecraft around the Moon. ... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Luna 14 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program run by the Soviet Union. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... Lunakhod Luna 1969A (Ye-8 series) was the first attempt to land a Lunokhod rover on the Moon. ... February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Luna 1969B was the first Soviet attempt at an unmanned lunar sample return. ... April 15 is the 105th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (106th in leap years). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Luna 1969C (Ye-8-5 series) was the second Soviet attempt at an unmanned lunar sample return. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Luna 15 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 15. ... July 13 is the 194th day (195th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 171 days remaining. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Cosmos 300 (Ye-8-5 series) was the fourth Soviet attempt at an unmanned lunar sample return. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Cosmos 305 (Ye-8-5 series) was the fifth Soviet attempt at an unmanned lunar sample return. ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Luna 1970A (Ye-8-5 series) was the sixth Soviet attempt at an unmanned lunar sample return. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Luna 1970B was an attempted lunar orbiter. ... February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Luna 16 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 16. ... Portal:Currentevents September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Mare Fecunditatis (the sea of fecundity) is a lunar mare 909 miles in diameter. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Luna 17 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 17. ... November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... Oblique view of Mare Imbrium looking south towards Copernicus crater. ... Lunokhod series Soviet Moon exploration robot vehicle A panorama shot from Lunokhod 1 A photo from Lunokhod 1 showing the Luna 17 lander The tracks of Lunokhod showing the little wheel in the center that was used for odometry. ... Luna 18 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 18. ... September 2 is the 245th day of the year (246th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... Luna 19 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 19. ... September 28 is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... Luna 20 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 20. ... February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... February 25 is the 56th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Luna 21 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 21. ... January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ... Lunokhod series Soviet Moon exploration robot vehicle Lunokhod 2 was the second of two unmanned lunar rovers landed on the Moon by the Soviet Union as part of the Lunokhod program. ... Luna 22 was an unmanned space mission, part of the Soviet Luna program, also called Lunik 22. ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Luna 23 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 23. ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Mare Crisium Studios is also the name of a company formed to develop the game Stars! Supernova Genesis. ... Luna 1975A was a Soviet unmanned space mission, part of the Luna program, and similar to the later Luna 24 mission which successfully collected and returned to Earth a sample of lunar material. ... October 16 is the 289th day of the year (290th in leap years). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Mare Crisium Studios is also the name of a company formed to develop the game Stars! Supernova Genesis. ... Luna 24 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 24. ... August 9 is the 221st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (222nd in leap years), with 144 days remaining. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... August 18 is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Mare Crisium Studios is also the name of a company formed to develop the game Stars! Supernova Genesis. ...

See also

Soviet Soyuz rockets like the one pictured above were the first reliable means to transport objects into Earth orbit. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

External links

Categories: Moon | Luna programme Image File history File links Luna-9_spacecraft. ... Luna 1958A (E-1 series) was the first Soviet spacecraft which was using for mission to the Moon. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Luna 1958C (E-1 series) was the third Soviet spacecraft which was used for mission to the Moon. ... Luna 1 is the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and the first of the Luna programme of Soviet automatic interplanetary stations successfully launched in the direction of the Moon. ... Luna 2. ... Luna 2 (E-1A series) was the second of the Soviet Unions Luna program spacecraft launched in the direction of the Moon. ... Luna 3, an automatic interplanetary station of the Luna program, was the third spacecraft successfully launched to the Moon and the first to return images of the lunar far side. ... Luna 1960A (E-3 series) was the second Soviet attempt to photograph the far side of the Moon. ... Luna 1960B (E-3 series) was the third Soviet attempt to photograph the far side of the Moon. ... The mission of the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 25 was an attempted lunar soft landing, with the purpose of returning data on the mechanical characteristics of the lunar surface, the hazards presented by the topology such as craters, rocks, and other obstructions, and radiation, in preparation for future manned landings. ... Luna 1963B (E-6 series) was the second Soviet attempt to land an unmanned spacecraft on the Moon. ... Luna 4 was the USSRs first successful spacecraft of their second generation Luna program. ... Luna 1964A (E-6 series) was the fourth Soviet attempt to land an unmanned spacecraft on the Moon. ... Luna 1964B (E-6 series) was the fifth Soviet attempt to land an unmanned spacecraft on the Moon. ... The Cosmos 60 probe, launched by the Soviet Union on March 12, 1965, was intended to be a lunar soft-landing mission, with a design similar to that of Luna 4. ... Luna 1965A (E-6 series) was the seventh Soviet attempt to land an unmanned spacecraft on the Moon. ... Luna 5 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 5. ... Luna 6 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 6. ... Luna 7 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 7. ... Luna 8 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 8. ... Luna 9 was an unmanned space mission of the Soviet Unions Luna program. ... Luna 10 spacecraft. ... Luna 10 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 10. ... Luna 1966A was the third Soviet attempt to orbit a spacecraft around the Moon (the first attempt being the unsuccessful Cosmos 111 mission and the second being the successful Luna 10 mission). ... Luna 11 was an unmanned space mission of the Soviet Unions Luna program. ... Luna 12 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 12. ... Luna 13 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 13. ... Luna 1968A (E-6LS series) was a Soviet attempt to orbit a spacecraft around the Moon. ... Luna 14 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program run by the Soviet Union. ... Lunakhod Luna 1969A (Ye-8 series) was the first attempt to land a Lunokhod rover on the Moon. ... Luna 1969B was the first Soviet attempt at an unmanned lunar sample return. ... Luna 1969C (Ye-8-5 series) was the second Soviet attempt at an unmanned lunar sample return. ... Luna 15 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 15. ... Cosmos 300 (Ye-8-5 series) was the fourth Soviet attempt at an unmanned lunar sample return. ... Cosmos 305 (Ye-8-5 series) was the fifth Soviet attempt at an unmanned lunar sample return. ... Luna 1970A (Ye-8-5 series) was the sixth Soviet attempt at an unmanned lunar sample return. ... Luna 1970B was an attempted lunar orbiter. ... Luna 16 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 16. ... Luna 17 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 17. ... Luna 18 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 18. ... Luna 19 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 19. ... Luna 20 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 20. ... Luna 21 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 21. ... Luna 22 was an unmanned space mission, part of the Soviet Luna program, also called Lunik 22. ... Luna 23 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 23. ... Luna 1975A was a Soviet unmanned space mission, part of the Luna program, and similar to the later Luna 24 mission which successfully collected and returned to Earth a sample of lunar material. ... Luna 24 was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 24. ...