Luna 22: Lunar Orbit – For All Moonkind Moon Registry

Mission Details

Mission Name: Luna 22

Mission Type: Lunar Orbiter

Operator: Soviet Union (Roscosmos)

Launching State: Soviet Union/Russia

Location: Unkown

Latitude: N/A

Longitude: N/A

Launch Date: 29 May 1974, 08:57:00 UT

Landing Date: N/A

Objects on or Related to Site:
Luna 22

Image Source: NASA

Description

In addition to its primary mission of surface photography, Luna 22 also performed investigations to determine the chemical composition of the lunar surface, recorded meteoroid activity, searched for a lunar magnetic field, measured solar and cosmic radiation flux, and continued studies of the irregular magnetic field.

Heritage Consideration

The spacecraft made many orbit adjustments over its 18-month lifetime in order to optimize the operation of various experiments,

Object on or Related to Site

Object Name: Luna 22
Cospar: 1974-037A
Norad: N/A
Location: Precise location unknown or undisclosed.
Launch Date: 29 May 1974, 08:57:00 UT
Landing Date: N/A
Deployment: N/A
End Date: November 1974
Function: Lunar imaging.
Image Source: NASA

Description

Luna 22 was a lunar orbiter mission. The spacecraft carried imaging cameras and also had the objectives of studying the Moon’s magnetic field, surface gamma ray emissions and composition of lunar surface rocks, and the gravitational field, as well as micrometeorites and cosmic rays. Luna 22 was launched into Earth parking orbit and then to the moon. It was inserted into a circular lunar orbit on 2 June 1974. The spacecraft made many orbit adjustments over its 18 month lifetime in order to optimize the operation of various experiments, lowering the perilune to as little as 25 km. Maneuvering fuel was exhausted on 2 September and the mission was ended in early November.