Today in the history of astronomy, the first robotic collected lunar samples are back to Earth.
For sample collection, Luna 16 finally had a 35 -inch extended hand with a drill. Credit: Bembmv, CC By-SA 3.0, through Wikimedia Commons
- Luna was launched on 16, 12 September, 1970, the first was fully robotic Lunar Sample Return Mission.
- The mission successfully landed in Ghori Ficunditis on 20 September 1970.
- Using a robotic arm, Luna 16 collected about 101 grams of lunar rajolith from a depth of about 35 cm.
- The sample container was returned to Earth within a re -entry capsule to enter the USSR on 24 September 1970.
On September 24, 1970, Luna 16 launched a new mark in the Lunar sample collection – traced by a robot. Although Apollo astronauts collected lunar samples on their missions, Luna was the first example of 16 samples and fully returned to Earth robotic, including no astronauts (or cosmonots). After exploding on September 12, 1970, the spacecraft landed in mare facunditatis (sea of fertility) on 20 September, and used an extendable arm 35 inch (90 cm) to drill the surface. The drill was capable of entering about 14 inches (35 cm), and simply was collected under a quarter pound (101 g). After 26 hours on the lunar surface, Luna left for 16 homes, its lineage stage for the moon landing was also designed as a launchpad for the upper part of the spacecraft. The hermetically seal sample container was stored in a return capsule at the top of the craft. This re-entry capsule safely returned to Earth, landing in the USSR on 24 September.
