Luna 28

Summary

Luna 28 (Luna Resource 2 or Luna-Grunt rover) is a proposed sample-return mission from the south polar region of the Moon.[3][4]

Luna 28
NamesLuna Resource 2
Luna-Grunt rover
Mission typeLunar sample-return mission
OperatorRoscosmos
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass4,363 kg (9,619 lb) (fueled) [1]
Payload mass400 kg (880 lb) [1]
Start of mission
Launch dateNET 2030[2]
End of mission
Landing siteLunar south pole
← Luna 27
Luna 29 →
 

Mission edit

Luna 28 will be composed of a stationary lunar lander and a lunar rover.[1] The rover would bring soil samples back to the lander and transfer them into the ascent stage, which would launch and insert itself into a 100 km lunar orbit. While in lunar orbit, the soil-carrying capsule would be intercepted by an orbiting return module, which would perform all rendezvous operations and transfer the samples. After reloading the samples, the return vehicle separates from the orbiter and heads to Earth, while the orbital module continues its mission in the lunar orbit for at least three years.[1] The mission was initially scheduled to be launched in 2027, but due to delays in the Luna-Glob program it is expected to be launched no earlier than 2030 as of August 2023.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Luna-Grunt (Lunar Sample-Return/Luna-28) mission RussianSpaceWeb.com Accessed 15 March 2018
  2. ^ a b @katlinegrey (11 August 2023). "Yuri Borisov: Roscosmos plans to launch #Luna26 in 2027, Luna-27 – in 2028, and Luna-28 – in 2030 or later. After that, the next goal will be a crewed mission to the Moon" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Lunar Exploration Timeline Lunar and Planetary Institute 2018
  4. ^ Robotic Missions of Russian Lunar Program Archived 16 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine Alexander Zakharov and Ilia Kuznetsov Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences 2017

External links edit

  • Lunar and Planetary Department Moscow University
  • Soviet Luna Chronology
  • Exploring the Moon: Luna Missions