Luna 16
Luna 16 was a Soviet robotic lunar sample-return mission. Its automated lander collected material in Mare Fecunditatis, launched a sealed return capsule from the Moon, and delivered the first lunar sample returned to Earth entirely by robotic spacecraft.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Luna-16Ye-8-5 No. 4061970-072A
- Name
- Luna 16
- Slug
- luna-16
- Status
- completed
Details
- Astronauts
- -
- Description
- Luna 16 was a Soviet robotic lunar sample-return mission. Its automated lander collected material in Mare Fecunditatis, launched a sealed return capsule from the Moon, and delivered the first lunar sample returned to Earth entirely by robotic spacecraft.
- End Date
- 1970-09-24
- Launch Site
- Outcome
- Successful. Luna 16 landed in Mare Fecunditatis on September 20, 1970, collected about 101 grams of lunar material, and returned its sample capsule to Earth on September 24.
- Program
- Luna
- Start Date
- 1970-09-12
- Vehicle Families
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/photojournal/luna-16/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- July 18, 2026 at 11:18:46 UTC
- Updated Time
- July 18, 2026 at 11:18:46 UTC
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles
- -