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.
Follow this mission
Alerts are unavailable because this mission is no longer active.
Identity
- Aliases
- Luna-16Ye-8-5 No. 4061970-072A
- Name
- 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.
- Destination
- Mare Fecunditatis on the Moon for automated lunar soil sampling and robotic sample return to Earth
- 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.
- Programs
- 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
- September 8, 2026 at 09:58:54 UTC
- Image
- Download
Other
- Affiliations
- Space Stations
- -
- Vehicles