description Luna 24 Overview
Luna 24 was a Soviet robotic lunar sample return mission launched in August 1976. It successfully landed in Mare Crisium, drilled approximately 2 meters into the lunar surface, and returned 170.1 grams of regolith to Earth. The mission was the final flight of the Soviet Luna program and represented the last lunar sample return before China's Chang'e 5 mission in 2020. Analysis of the Luna 24 samples contributed to the understanding of lunar soil composition in the Crisium basin.
help Luna 24 FAQ
How much lunar soil did Luna 24 bring back to Earth?
Luna 24 successfully drilled and returned about 170 grams of lunar regolith to Earth in 1976. This sample was safely delivered in a hermetically sealed capsule back to the Soviet Union.
Where on the Moon did Luna 24 land?
The spacecraft touched down in Mare Crisium, a dark basaltic plain on the near side of the Moon. This specific landing site was chosen to collect deep core samples of the lunar soil.
Was Luna 24 the last Soviet mission to the Moon?
Yes, Luna 24 was the final lunar mission conducted by the Soviet Union. It marked the end of the Luna series, with no further robotic lunar sample return missions sent by any nation until China's Chang'e 5 in 2020.
How did Luna 24 return its samples to Earth?
The mission utilized an ascent stage that blasted off from the lunar surface to carry the soil sample into orbit. It then traveled back to Earth, where its return capsule parachuted down safely in Siberia.
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