Luna 20, also known as Lunik 20, was a robotic Soviet lunar lander mission launched on February 14, 1972. It was the second successful robotic mission (after Luna 16) to return samples from the Moon to Earth. The spacecraft was part of the larger Luna Program, aimed at lunar exploration, and it was a critical mission in furthering our understanding of the Moon’s surface and subsurface composition.
Mission Objectives
The primary objective of Luna 20 was to land on the Moon, collect samples of the lunar soil, and return those samples to Earth. This was part of the Soviet Union’s ongoing effort to study the Moon through robotic missions, particularly in areas not explored by the earlier Luna 16 mission.
Key Features
- Launch: Luna 20 was launched aboard a Proton-K rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on February 14, 1972.
- Landing Site: The spacecraft successfully landed on the Moon on February 21, 1972, in the Apollonius Highlands, a mountainous region near the Mare Fecunditatis (Sea of Fertility). This area was chosen for its different geological characteristics compared to previous landing sites.
- Robotic Sampling: After landing, Luna 20 deployed a drilling system to collect samples from the lunar surface. The drill was capable of reaching depths of up to 35 cm, and it extracted soil samples that were stored in a sealed capsule.
- Sample Return: On February 22, the ascent stage of Luna 20 was launched back to Earth with the collected lunar soil samples. The return capsule landed in Kazakhstan on February 25, successfully bringing back 55 grams of lunar material.
Scientific Impact
The samples returned by Luna 20 were particularly significant because they were from a highland region, which had not been studied by earlier missions. This area is geologically older and more rugged than the maria (lava plains) that previous missions had explored. The Apollonius Highlands samples provided insights into the Moon’s ancient crust and the processes that shaped its surface. These samples included anorthosite rocks, which are believed to represent the original crust of the Moon.
Technological Achievements
Luna 20 demonstrated the ability of robotic systems to land on challenging terrain, collect geological samples, and return them to Earth autonomously. The success of this mission, like Luna 16, proved that robotic missions could conduct complex operations without the need for human intervention, paving the way for future planetary exploration.
Legacy:
- The 55 grams of lunar material returned by Luna 20 were distributed to scientists around the world for study. The mission contributed valuable data to the growing body of lunar science, complementing the Apollo samples brought back by NASA’s missions.
- Luna 20 was part of the Soviet Union’s effort to compete with the United States in the Space Race, specifically in lunar exploration. While the Soviet Union did not succeed in landing humans on the Moon, the Luna missions, including Luna 20, are considered significant achievements in robotic space exploration.
In summary, Luna 20 was a successful mission that returned important samples from the Moon’s highland region, furthering our understanding of the lunar surface and contributing to the broader efforts of planetary science.
