Kosmos 305 Ye-8-5 Lunar Sample-Return Spacecraft
Kosmos 305 was the Soviet Ye-8-5 No. 404 lunar sample-return spacecraft launched on 22 October 1969. Exactly one lunar month after Kosmos 300, it failed to leave Earth orbit when a programming failure prevented the Blok D upper stage from firing for translunar injection; the spacecraft decayed over Australia before completing one orbit. It carried stereo imaging, a remote sample-collection arm, and a radiation detector.
Follow this vehicle family
Alerts for directly linked future launches and major activity.
Identity
- Aliases
- Kosmos 305Kosmos-305Ye-8-5 No. 404Luna 16B
- Family Name
- Kosmos 305
- Full Name
- Kosmos 305 Ye-8-5 Lunar Sample-Return Spacecraft
- Roles
- sample_returnlanderresearch
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- Kosmos 305 was the Soviet Ye-8-5 No. 404 lunar sample-return spacecraft launched on 22 October 1969. Exactly one lunar month after Kosmos 300, it failed to leave Earth orbit when a programming failure prevented the Blok D upper stage from firing for translunar injection; the spacecraft decayed over Australia before completing one orbit. It carried stereo imaging, a remote sample-collection arm, and a radiation detector.
- First Flight Year
- 1,969
- Last Flight Year
- 1,969
- Spacecraft Specs
- Launch Mass Kg
- 5,700
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 15, 2026 at 00:14:37 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 15, 2026 at 00:14:37 UTC