Luna-21
Luna-21 was an unmanned space mission in the Soviet Union's Luna program, designed to further explore the surface of the Moon. Launched on January 8, 1973, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Luna-21 carried the second successful Soviet Lunokhod rover, known as Lunokhod 2.
Mission Overview
- Launch Date: January 8, 1973
- Launch Vehicle: Proton-K with a D upper stage
- Landing Site: Le Monnier crater in the Sea of Serenity (Mare Serenitatis)
Objectives
The primary objectives of the Luna-21 mission were:
- To soft-land on the Moon and deploy the Lunokhod 2 rover.
- To conduct scientific research on the lunar surface using the rover's instruments.
- To photograph the lunar terrain and analyze soil samples.
- To study the lunar regolith, the Moon's magnetic field, and the environment in the lunar vacuum.
Lunokhod 2
Lunokhod 2 was a significant achievement in lunar exploration. Here are some key points:
- Design: Eight-wheeled rover with solar panels, cameras, and various scientific instruments.
- Operation: Remote-controlled from Earth, it operated for about 4 months, traveling approximately 42 kilometers across the lunar surface.
- Instruments: Included a soil mechanics tester, an X-ray spectrometer, a penetrometer, a laser reflector, and more.
- Scientific Findings: Provided detailed images, soil composition analysis, and data on the lunar magnetic field.
Significance
Luna-21 and Lunokhod 2 expanded humanity's knowledge about the Moon, offering insights into its geological composition, the lunar environment, and how to operate rovers on extraterrestrial surfaces. It was part of the competitive space race era, showcasing the USSR's capabilities in space exploration.
End of Mission
After completing its mission, Lunokhod 2 was put into hibernation mode on May 3, 1973, due to the approaching lunar night. Although efforts were made to reawaken it, no further communication was established, and the rover was declared inactive.
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