 Image of Luna 23 lying horizontally on the lunar surface. A: Ascent Stage, D: Descent Stage. | |
| Mission type | Lunar sample return |
|---|---|
| Operator | Soviet space program |
| COSPAR ID | 1974-084A |
| SATCAT no. | 7491 |
| Mission duration | 12 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Ye-8-5M |
| Manufacturer | GSMZ Lavochkin |
| Launch mass | 5,795 kg (12,776 lb)[1] |
| Dry mass | 5,600 kg (12,300 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 28 October 1974, 14:30:32 UTC[1] |
| Rocket | Proton-K/D |
| Launch site | Baikonur 81/24 |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 9 November 1974 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Selenocentric |
| Eccentricity | 0.00272 |
| Periselene altitude | 94 km (58 mi) |
| Aposelene altitude | 104 km (65 mi) |
| Inclination | 138 degrees |
| Period | 119 minutes |
| Epoch | 2 November 1974 |
| Lunar orbiter | |
| Orbital insertion | 2 November 1974 |
| Orbits | ~48 |
| Lunar lander | |
| Landing date | 6 November 1974 |
| Landing site | 12°40′01″N 62°09′04″E / 12.6669°N 62.1511°E[2] |
| Instruments | |
| Stereo photographic imaging system Improved Drill/Remote arm for sample collection Radiation detector Radio-altimeter | |
Luna 23 was an uncrewed space mission of the Luna program developed by the Soviet Union.