Luna 18: Difference between revisions
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'''Luna 18''' (Ye-8-5 series) was an [[unmanned space mission]] of the [[Luna program]], also called Lunik 18.{{fact|date=June 2012}} |
'''Luna 18''' (Ye-8-5 series) was an [[unmanned space mission]] of the [[Luna program]], also called Lunik 18.{{fact|date=June 2012}} |
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Luna 18 was placed in an earth parking orbit after it was launched and was then sent towards the Moon. On September |
Luna 18 was placed in an earth parking orbit after it was launched and was then sent towards the Moon. On 7 September 1971, it entered lunar orbit. The spacecraft completed 85 communications sessions and 54 lunar orbits before it was sent towards the [[lunar surface]] by use of [[braking rocket]]s. It impacted the Moon on 11 September 1971, at 3 degrees 34 minutes N, 56 degrees 30 minutes E (selenographic coordinates) in a rugged mountainous terrain. Signals ceased at the moment of impact. |
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This mission was the seventh Soviet attempt to [[Sample return mission|recover soil samples]] from the surface of the Moon and the first after the success of Luna 16. After two mid-course corrections on 4 September and 6 September 1971, Luna 18 entered a circular orbit around the Moon on 7 September at 100 kilometers altitude with an inclination of 35°. After several more orbital corrections, on 11 September, the vehicle began its descent to the lunar surface. Unfortunately, contact with the spacecraft was abruptly lost at 07:48 UT at the previously determined point of lunar landing. Impact coordinates were 3°34' north latitude and 56°30' east longitude, near the edge of the [[Mare Fecunditatis]] ("Sea of Fertility"). Officially, the Soviets announced that "the lunar landing in the complex mountainous conditions proved to be unfavorable." Later, in 1975, the Soviets published data from Luna 18's continuous-wave radio altimeter that determined the mean [[density]] of the [[lunar soil|lunar topsoil]]. |
This mission was the seventh Soviet attempt to [[Sample return mission|recover soil samples]] from the surface of the Moon and the first after the success of Luna 16. After two mid-course corrections on 4 September and 6 September 1971, Luna 18 entered a circular orbit around the Moon on 7 September at 100 kilometers altitude with an inclination of 35°. After several more orbital corrections, on 11 September, the vehicle began its descent to the lunar surface. Unfortunately, contact with the spacecraft was abruptly lost at 07:48 UT at the previously determined point of lunar landing. Impact coordinates were 3°34' north latitude and 56°30' east longitude, near the edge of the [[Mare Fecunditatis]] ("Sea of Fertility"). Officially, the Soviets announced that "the lunar landing in the complex mountainous conditions proved to be unfavorable." Later, in 1975, the Soviets published data from Luna 18's continuous-wave radio altimeter that determined the mean [[density]] of the [[lunar soil|lunar topsoil]]. |
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[[Category:1971 in spaceflight]] |
[[Category:1971 in spaceflight]] |
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[[Category:1971 in the Soviet Union]] |
[[Category:1971 in the Soviet Union]] |
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[[Category:Spacecraft impacted the Moon]] |
[[Category:Spacecraft that impacted the Moon]] |
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[[Category:Spacecraft that orbited |
[[Category:Spacecraft that orbited Moon]] |
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[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1971]] |
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1971]] |
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Revision as of 07:47, 26 March 2014
Template:Infobox spacecraft Luna 18 (Ye-8-5 series) was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program, also called Lunik 18.[citation needed]
Luna 18 was placed in an earth parking orbit after it was launched and was then sent towards the Moon. On 7 September 1971, it entered lunar orbit. The spacecraft completed 85 communications sessions and 54 lunar orbits before it was sent towards the lunar surface by use of braking rockets. It impacted the Moon on 11 September 1971, at 3 degrees 34 minutes N, 56 degrees 30 minutes E (selenographic coordinates) in a rugged mountainous terrain. Signals ceased at the moment of impact.
This mission was the seventh Soviet attempt to recover soil samples from the surface of the Moon and the first after the success of Luna 16. After two mid-course corrections on 4 September and 6 September 1971, Luna 18 entered a circular orbit around the Moon on 7 September at 100 kilometers altitude with an inclination of 35°. After several more orbital corrections, on 11 September, the vehicle began its descent to the lunar surface. Unfortunately, contact with the spacecraft was abruptly lost at 07:48 UT at the previously determined point of lunar landing. Impact coordinates were 3°34' north latitude and 56°30' east longitude, near the edge of the Mare Fecunditatis ("Sea of Fertility"). Officially, the Soviets announced that "the lunar landing in the complex mountainous conditions proved to be unfavorable." Later, in 1975, the Soviets published data from Luna 18's continuous-wave radio altimeter that determined the mean density of the lunar topsoil.
- Launch Date/Time: 1971-09-02 at 13:40:40 UTC
- On-orbit dry mass: 5600 kg