# Luna 16

> space probe

**Wikidata**: [Q858293](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q858293)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_16)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/luna-16

## Summary
Luna 16 is a space probe in the Soviet Luna programme. It launched on 1970-09-12 on a Proton-K rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23, entered lunar orbit on 1970-09-17, and landed on the Moon on 1970-09-20 in Mare Fecunditatis.

## Key Facts
- Luna 16 is a space probe and is also classified as a lunar lander, space mission, and artificial satellite.
- Luna 16 is part of the Luna programme.
- Luna 16 launched on 1970-09-12 from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23.
- The launch vehicle for Luna 16 was a Proton-K rocket.
- Luna 16 has COSPAR ID 1970-072A and NSSDCA ID 1970-072A.
- Luna 16 performed orbit insertion into lunar orbit on 1970-09-17.
- Luna 16 landed on the Moon on 1970-09-20 at Mare Fecunditatis (coordinates: lat -0.68333333333333, lon 56.3).
- The Moon landing event is recorded with an altitude value of 95100 (unit: Q11574) and a time window from 1970-09-20 to 1970-09-21.
- Luna 16 was preceded by Luna 15 and followed by Luna 17.
- An additional landing event is recorded on 1970-09-24 at Jezkazgan with the qualifier “lunar soil.”

## FAQs
### Q: What is Luna 16?
A: Luna 16 is a space probe in the Luna programme. It is also classified as a lunar lander, a space mission, and an artificial satellite.

### Q: When and where did Luna 16 launch?
A: Luna 16 launched on 1970-09-12. The launch site was Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23, and the launch vehicle was a Proton-K rocket.

### Q: Where did Luna 16 land on the Moon?
A: Luna 16 landed on the Moon in Mare Fecunditatis. The landing location is given at approximately latitude -0.68333333333333 and longitude 56.3.

### Q: What missions came before and after Luna 16?
A: Luna 16 follows Luna 15. It is followed by Luna 17.

### Q: What identifiers are associated with Luna 16?
A: Luna 16 has COSPAR ID 1970-072A and NSSDCA ID 1970-072A. It also has a Wolfram Language entity code listed as Entity["Satellite", "04527"].

## Why It Matters
Luna 16 matters as a documented lunar mission within the Luna programme with clearly recorded milestones spanning launch, lunar orbit insertion, and a Moon landing. Its timeline shows a complete sequence of major mission phases: a rocket launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23 on 1970-09-12, orbit insertion into lunar orbit on 1970-09-17, and a landing in Mare Fecunditatis on 1970-09-20. The mission is also notable for having multiple classifications—space probe, lunar lander, space mission, and artificial satellite—making it relevant across different ways of organizing and querying spaceflight data. Additionally, Luna 16 is well-identified in standard space-object catalogs via its COSPAR/NSSDCA identifier (1970-072A), which supports unambiguous cross-referencing across databases. Its placement between Luna 15 and Luna 17 also anchors it in a sequence of related missions, helping researchers and knowledge systems understand continuity and progression within the Luna series.

## Notable For
- A recorded Moon landing in Mare Fecunditatis on 1970-09-20 (with provided coordinates).
- A recorded orbit insertion event into lunar orbit on 1970-09-17.
- Launching on a Proton-K rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23 on 1970-09-12.
- Being cataloged under the standard identifier 1970-072A (COSPAR and NSSDCA).
- Its explicit sequencing in the Luna missions: follows Luna 15 and is followed by Luna 17.

## Body
### Identification and Naming
- Name: Luna 16
- Alias: لونا ١٦
- Wikidata description: space probe
- Wikipedia title: Luna 16
- Commons category: Luna 16
- Freebase ID: /m/0pbb0
- Wolfram Language entity code: Entity["Satellite", "04527"]

### Classification
Luna 16 is recorded as:
- Space probe (instance of)
- Lunar lander (instance of)
- Space mission (instance of)
- Artificial satellite (instance of)

### Program and Mission Sequence
- Part of: Luna programme
- Follows: Luna 15
- Followed by: Luna 17

### Launch Details
- Significant event: rocket launch
  - Date: 1970-09-12
  - Location (launch site): Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23
  - Launch vehicle: Proton-K

### Lunar Orbit and Landing Events
- Significant event: orbit insertion
  - Location: lunar orbit
  - Date: 1970-09-17

- Significant event: Moon landing
  - Body: Moon
  - Region: Mare Fecunditatis
  - Coordinates: lat -0.68333333333333, lon 56.3
  - Time window: start_time 1970-09-20; end_time 1970-09-21
  - Recorded altitude value: 95100 (unit: Q11574)

- Landing date (property): 1970-09-20

### Catalog Identifiers
- COSPAR ID: 1970-072A
- NSSDCA ID: 1970-072A
- SCN: 04527

### Additional Recorded Landing Event
- Significant event: landing
  - Place: Jezkazgan
  - Date: 1970-09-24
  - Qualifier: lunar soil

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Luna 16",
  "description": "Luna 16 is a space probe in the Luna programme that launched on 1970-09-12, entered lunar orbit on 1970-09-17, and landed on the Moon on 1970-09-20 in Mare Fecunditatis.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_16",
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4527"
  ],
  "additionalType": "https://schema.org/Satellite"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013