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Luna 21
Soviet spacecraft that landed on the Moon and deployed the Lunokhod 2 lunar rover. Luna 21 was launched on January 8, 1973 aboard a Proton-K/D from Baikonur. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (Jan 9, 1973).
COSPAR 1973-001ANORAD 6333Soviet Union
Identity
- Name in GCAT
- Luna-21
- Common name
- Luna 21
- Payload designation
- E-8 No. 204
- International designator
- 1973-001A
- NORAD catalog number
- 6333
- GCAT identifier
- S06333
- UN registration
- A/AC.105/INF.268
Mission
- Mission type
- Deep space
- Use
- Civil government
- Program
- E-8
- Owner
- IKI
- Country
- Soviet Union
- Builder
- NPO Lavochkin
- Platform (bus)
- Luna E-8
Launch
- Date
- January 8, 1973 · 06:55 UTC
- Launch record
- 1973-001Success
- Rocket
- Proton-K/D
- Spaceport
- Baikonur · pad LC81/23
Orbit and fate
- Orbit class (GCAT)
- CLO
- Perigee
- 200 km
- Apogee
- 400,000 km
- Inclination
- 51.56°
- Status
- Left Earth orbit for deep space
- Status date
- January 9, 1973
- Last known active
- Jan 16, 1973
- End of operations
- Jan 16, 1973
Size
- Mass
- 2,944 kg
- Dry mass
- 1,124 kg
- Total mass with attached objects
- 3,344 kg
- Length
- 1.5 m
- Diameter
- 3.50 m
- Span
- 5.0 m
Deep space
- Deep-space catalog entry
- D00482
- Final central body
- Luna
- Phase start
- January 12, 1973
- Phase outcome
- Entered orbit around the target · January 12, 1973
- Destination
- Luna
Flight phases
| From | Central body | Ended | Outcome | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 9, 1973 | Earth | Jan 12, 1973 | Escaped to another body | Luna |
| Jan 12, 1973 | Luna | Jan 15, 1973 | Landed | Luna |
| Jan 15, 1973 | Luna | Jan 16, 1973 | Stopped transmitting on the surface | Luna |
Landings and impacts
| World | Type | Result | Touchdown | Site | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luna | Lander (powered landing) | Landed and operated | Jan 15, 1973 | — | 26.00, 30.41 |
Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q684044 (CC0).