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Mission record

Luna 20

Also known as Lunik 20, Luna20

U.S.S.R · Launched

Explore trajectory

Completed · Success

A Soviet mission that drilled and returned a sample from the lunar highlands near Mare Fecunditatis.

Destinations
Moon
Launch vehicle
Proton Booster Plus Upper Stage and Escape Stages
Launch site
Tyuratam (Baikonur Cosmodrome), U.S.S.R
Countries
Soviet Union
Mission types
Lander, Sample return

Chronology

Mission timeline

  1. Launch

    Luna 20 launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome

  2. Orbit insertion

    Luna 20 entered lunar orbit

    Moon

  3. Landing

    Luna 20 soft landed in the Apollonius highlands

    Moon

  4. Departure

    The ascent stage lifted off carrying 30 grams of lunar samples

    Moon

  5. Sample return

    The capsule landed in the Soviet Union with the sample

    Earth

Mission architecture

Vehicles

  • Luna 20 · Lander

    Destinations: Moon

Trajectory record

Trajectory dataset not yet available

No verified trajectory dataset is committed for this mission, so Mission Atlas renders no path.

Provenance

Sources

Each source is listed once and labeled with the mission, event, trajectory, or destination/body context it supports.

Data verified through August 27, 2026