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Mission record

Luna 21

Also known as Lunokhod 2, Luna21/Lunokhod2

U.S.S.R · Launched

Explore trajectory

Completed · Success

The Soviet mission that delivered Lunokhod 2 to Le Monnier crater, where the rover drove further across the Moon than any vehicle before it.

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, Rover

Chronology

Mission timeline

  1. Launch

    Luna 21 launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome

  2. Orbit insertion

    Luna 21 was braked into a 90 x 100 km lunar orbit

    Moon

  3. Landing

    Luna 21 landed in LeMonnier crater

    Moon

  4. Deployment

    Lunokhod 2 rolled down a ramp to the lunar surface

    Moon

  5. Milestone

    Lunokhod 2 drove into a small crater, depositing dust inside its lid

    Moon

  6. Loss of contact

    Communications ceased after dust on the radiator caused the rover to overheat

    Moon

  7. Mission end

    The completion of the programme was announced

    Moon

Mission architecture

Vehicles

  • Luna 21 · Lander

    Destinations: Moon

  • Lunokhod 2 · Rover

    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