Luna 20 was the second of three successful Soviet lunar sample return missions. It was flown as part of the Luna program as a robotic competitor to the six successful Apollo lunar sample return missions.

On 21 February 1972, Luna 20 soft landed on the Moon at 3.7863 N, 56.6242 E in a mountainous area known as the Apollonius highlands near Mare Foecunditatis (Sea of Fertility), 120 km from where Luna 16 had impacted. While on the lunar surface, …

Luna 20 was to conduct the mission that Luna 18 was unable to complete: obtain a soil sample from the lunar highlands and bring it to Earth for comparison with Luna 16’s sample from a site that was thought to be geologically different.

Jan 30, 2010 · Luna 20 lander on the Moon The Luna 20 descent stage has been sitting on the lunar highlands since its landing on February 21, 1972. On February 22, 1972, a sample return capsule launched from this spot, carrying 55 grams of lunar soil back to Earth.

Although Luna 20 collected samples from the “lunar highlands”, they were not as anorthositic as might be expected. The largest component is made of impact breccias. The Luna 20 soil also contains more iron-rich pyroxene, than other highland soils (Simon et al. 1981). This may be due to the relative close proximity of mare basalt (33 km ...

Dec 31, 2014 · This was the eighth Soviet spacecraft launched to return lunar soil to Earth. It was evidently sent to complete the mission that Luna 18 had failed to accomplish. After a 4.5- day flight to the Moon, which included a single midcourse correction on 15 February, Luna 20 entered orbit around the Moon on 18 February.

The Luna 20 drill was a thin-walled tube carrying helical threads on its outside surface and a crown on sharp teeth at its cutting end. The drill was equipped with two special mechanisms, one for capturing hard core samples and the other for holding loose material.

The distinctive shadow seen in the LROC image of Luna 20 is most likely that of the sampling arm. The Luna 20 sample contained minerals similar to those sampled by the US Apollo 16 astronauts two months later from the Cayley plains (8°58"S, 15°30"E). Explore …

Luna 20 fue la segunda de tres exitosas misiones de retorno de muestras lunares soviéticas. Fue llevada a cabo como parte del programa Luna como un competidor robótico a las seis exitosas misiones de retorno de muestras lunares del programa Apolo .

Luna 20 was launched on 14 February 1972 and successfully landed in the rugged lunar highlands between Mare Fecunditatis and Mare Crisium on 21 February 1972. After collecting 55 g of lunar regolith, the Luna 20 ascent stage launched on 22 February 1973 and successfully landed back on Earth on 25 February 1972.