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Handsome model of the Luna 20 lander, the second of three successful Soviet lunar sample return missions that was flown as part of the Luna program, a competitor to the six successful Apollo lunar sample return missions. The model, comprised of various metallic parts, measures 9˝ x 6˝ x 7.5˝, and features components like the ascent and descent stages, the landing gear, the upper sample return capsule, instrument compartments, an extendable drilling apparatus, and a drill sampling device. In fine condition, with trivial scuffing.
Luna 20 was a Soviet robotic sample-return mission that launched on February 14, 1972. The spacecraft landed in the Apollonius Highlands of the moon a week later, drilled into the lunar surface, and collected about 30 grams of highland soil. The Luna 20’s ascent stage successfully returned the sample capsule to Earth on February 25th, and discovered that soil sample differed from that collected by Luna 16. The majority (50 to 60%) of the rock particles in the newer sample were ancient lunar highlands anorthosite (which consists largely of feldspar) rather than the basalt of the earlier one (which contained about 1 to 2% of anorthosite). The American Apollo 16 mission returned similar highland material two months later. In March 2010, NASA reported that its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter satellite had spotted Luna 20 descent stage on the lunar surface.
