Luna 18

Lore & Background

Luna 18 was placed in an Earth parking orbit after it was launched and was then sent towards the Moon. On 7 September 1971, it entered lunar orbit. The spacecraft completed 85 communications sessions and 54 lunar orbits before it was sent towards the lunar surface by use of braking rockets. It impacted the Moon on 11 September 1971, at 3 degrees 34 minutes N, 56 degrees 30 minutes E (selenographic coordinates) in rugged mountainous terrain. Signals ceased at the moment of impact. This mission was the seventh Soviet attempt to recover soil samples from the surface of the Moon and the first after the success of Luna 16. After two mid-course corrections on 4 September and 6 September 1971, Luna 18 entered a circular orbit around the Moon on 7 September at 100 kilometers altitude with an inclination of 35°. After several more orbital corrections, on 11 September, the vehicle began its descent to the lunar surface. Contact with the spacecraft was lost at 07:48 UT at the previously determined point of lunar landing. Impact coordinates were 3°34' north latitude and 56°30' east longitude, near the edge of the Mare Fecunditatis. Officially, the Soviets announced that 'the lunar landing in the complex mountainous conditions proved to be unfavorable.' Later, in 1975, the Soviets published data from Luna 18's continuous-wave radio altimeter that determined the mean density of the lunar topsoil.

Reader's Guide

Luna 18 was the seventh Soviet attempt to recover soil samples from the Moon. It entered lunar orbit on 7 September 1971, completed 54 lunar orbits, and impacted the Moon on 11 September 1971.

Did You Know?

• Luna 18 completed 85 communications sessions during its mission.
• The spacecraft impacted near the edge of the Mare Fecunditatis.
• In 1975, data from Luna 18's radio altimeter was used to determine the mean density of lunar topsoil.