Luna 21 (Ye-8 series) was an uncrewed space mission, and its spacecraft, of the Luna program, also called Lunik 21, in 1973. The spacecraft landed on the Moon and deployed the second Soviet lunar rover, Lunokhod 2.

The Luna 21 spacecraft landed on the Moon and deployed the second Soviet lunar rover (Lunokhod 2).

Luna 21 carried the second successful Soviet “8YeL” lunar rover, Lunokhod 2, and was launched less than a month after the last Apollo lunar landing. After a midcourse correction the day after launch, Luna 21 entered orbit around the Moon on Jan. 12, 1973.

Subsequent robotic missions unveiled lunar secrets, from iconic images of Armstrong’s steps to rovers probing its crannies. Luna 21, continuing this cosmic quest, stands as the latest chapter in humanity’s persistent exploration, contributing to the ongoing narrative of lunar mystery.

The Luna missions were designed to collect information about the Moon and its environment, not only for scientific purposes but also to be used in the planning of future lunar missions including manned missions to the Moon.

Feb 1, 2017 · Luna-21 landed on 16 January 1973 and deployed the roving vehicle Lunokhod-2 (Researches of the Moon, 1975). The goals of the mission were to study the topography, geology, and morphology of the lunar surface, in particular, the transition between mare and highlands.

Dec 31, 2014 · Luna 21 carried the second successful Soviet "8YeL" lunar rover, Lunokhod 2, and was launched less than a month after the last Apollo lunar landing. After a midcourse correction the day after launch, Luna 21 entered orbit around the Moon on 12 January 1973.

Mar 19, 2010 · The Luna 21 spacecraft landed in Le Monnier crater on 15 January 1973 delivering the Soviet Union’s second rover - Lunokhod 2 to the lunar surface (LROC Image of Lunokhod 2 rover). Luna 21 had a landed mass of 1900 kg and is about 2.3 m long; its overall diameter is about 3.3 m including the landing legs.

Luna 21 (E-8-204) launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome by four-stage Proton rocket into 190 x 235 kilometre orbit around the Earth at 51.6 degrees inclination - its mission is to enter orbit around the Moon and then land the Lunokhod 2 remote-controlled roving vehicle on its surface

Luna 21 (série Ye-8) (aussi appelé Lunik 21) est une mission spatiale non habitée, ainsi qu'un vaisseau spatial, du programme soviétique Luna lancée en 1973. Le vaisseau spatial a atterri sur la Lune et déployé le deuxième rover lunaire soviétique, Lunokhod 2.