Luna 24 Site (Mare Crisium)

What Happened Here?

Landing site of Luna 24, August 18, 1976. Last Soviet lunar landing. 170 g of deep core samples returned; water molecules later detected.

Region Overview

Isolated circular mare near the eastern limb. Luna 24 and Blue Ghost landed here.

Missions Associated with this Site

• Luna 24 (1976) · USSR LANDED
  Confirmed landing. Last Soviet lunar landing; first detection of water traces in lunar soil

Historical Timeline

• 1976-08-09 — Launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Luna 24)
• 1976-08-18 — Lands in Mare Crisium (Luna 24)
• 1976-08-18 — 2 m core drill deployed — 170 g collected (Luna 24)
• 1976-08-22 — Return capsule lands in Siberia — last Soviet lunar sample return (Luna 24)

Site Imagery & Gallery

Scientific References & Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_24
• https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1976-081A

Explore Luna 24 Site (Mare Crisium) in 3D

Interactive 3D Moon atlas with terrain model, spacecraft markers, and historical site stories.