On this day in space! Aug. 9, 1976: Soviet Luna 24 sample return probe launches to the moon

On Aug. 9, 1976, the Soviet space program launched its last moon mission. Luna 24 was a robotic sample return mission and the third of its kind.

The top 3

  1. Heaviest Lunar Sample Return: The Apollo program, through its six successful crewed missions, returned a total of 382 kilograms (842 pounds) of lunar rocks and soil to Earth.
  2. Largest Robotic Lunar Sample Return: China's Chang'e 5 mission, launched in 2020, successfully returned 1,731 grams (approximately 1.73 kilograms or 61.1 ounces) of lunar samples, including a core sample about 1 meter deep.
  3. First Robotic Lunar Sample Return: The Soviet Luna 16 mission, launched in 1970, was the first robotic probe to successfully land on the Moon and return a sample of 101 grams (3.6 ounces) of lunar soil to Earth.

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