Spacecraft History – The First Robotic Lunar Rover

Spacecraft History – The First Robotic Lunar Rover

The ‘Lunokhod 1’ robotic lunar rover circa 1970.  Photo Credit: Lavochkin Today, robotic planetary rovers are becoming increasingly common.  But 50 years ago, such a thing was nearly unheard of.  That changed on Nov. 15, 1970, when the Soviet Union landed...
38 Years Ago ‘Luna 24’ Spacecraft Made History

38 Years Ago ‘Luna 24’ Spacecraft Made History

The Soviet “Luna 24” three-stage spacecraft displayed in a museum. Credit: Roscosmos. Thirty-eight years ago, the Soviet “Luna 24” spacecraft successfully completed its mission to bring back samples of the lunar surface to Earth, returning 170 grams of...