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LANDING SITEMare Imbrium
LAT38.28°
LON-35.00°
MOON
Nov 17, 1970
LANDING DATE
1970
11 months
MISSION DURATION
TOTAL
-150 to 120 C
SURFACE TEMP
AT LANDING SITE
5,600
KG
MASS
5
INSTRUMENTS
SCIENTIFIC PAYLOAD
Luna 17 is a lander mission by NPO Lavochkin on Moon. Landed November 17, 1970. Landing site: Mare Imbrium.
ABOUT LUNA 17
Luna 17 delivered Lunokhod 1, the first robotic rover to operate on another world, to the surface of the Moon. After landing in Mare Imbrium, the rover drove down a ramp and began remote-controlled exploration. Over 11 months of operation, Lunokhod 1 traveled 10.54 km, transmitted more than 20,000 television images, and tested the soil at 500 points. Its French-built laser retroreflector is still used for lunar laser ranging experiments today.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- Lunokhod 1 traveled 10.54 km over 11 months
- Tested soil at 500 points and returned 20,000+ images
- Laser retroreflector still used for lunar laser ranging
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- Delivered Lunokhod 1, the first robotic rover on another world
- Ramp deployment for rover egress
- First remote-controlled rover operations from Earth
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (5)
Television cameras (2)
RIFMA X-ray fluorescence spectrometer
PROP odometer/penetrometer
Cosmic ray detector
Laser retroreflector (French-built)
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Mass5,600 kg (12,348 lbs)
PowerSolar panels + Polonium-210 radioisotope heater
CommunicationsRadio transmitter, low-gain antenna
Design Life3 months
Landing DateNovember 17, 1970
Mission EndOctober 4, 1971
ProgramLuna
SURFACE DATA
Surface Temperature-150 to 120 C
OTHER MOON LANDERS
🚀 LAUNCH MISSION