Legacy
| Lunar Mission |
Sample Returned |
Year |
|---|---|---|
| Luna 16 | 101 g | 1970 |
| Luna 20 | 55 g | 1972 |
| Luna 24 | 170 g | 1976 |
Three tiny samples (0.2 grams) of the Luna 16 soil were sold at Sotheby auction for $442,500 in 1993. The samples are the only lunar return material in private ownership during the 20th century. Another source of privately possessed moon rock is lunar meteorites of varying quality and authenticity, and another is lost Apollo moon rocks, possible legal issues aside.
A series of 10-kopeck stamps was issued in 1970 to commemorate the flight of Luna 16 lunar probe and depicted the main stages of the programme: soft landing on Moon, launch of the lunar soil sample return capsule, and parachute assisted landing back on Earth.
| Preceded by Luna 1970B |
Luna programme | Succeeded by Luna 17 |
Read more about this topic: Luna 16
Famous quotes containing the word legacy:
“What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.”
—Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536)