# Luna 18

> space probe

**Wikidata**: [Q668942](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q668942)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_18)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/luna-18

## Summary
Luna 18 was a Soviet space probe launched on September 2, 1971, as part of the Luna programme. It was designed to land on the Moon but failed to achieve a soft landing, making it the first Soviet attempt to do so that ended in failure. The probe was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome using a Proton-K rocket.

## Key Facts
- **Launch date**: September 2, 1971
- **Launch site**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24
- **Launch vehicle**: Proton-K
- **Part of series**: Luna programme
- **Instance of**: Space probe, artificial satellite
- **COSPAR ID**: 1971-073A
- **NSSDCA ID**: 1971-073A
- **Preceded by**: Luna 17
- **Followed by**: Luna 19
- **Official website**: [Luna 18](http://www.laspace.ru/rus/luna18.html)

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of Luna 18?
A: Luna 18 was intended to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, a goal that had not yet been accomplished by the Soviet Union.

### Q: Why did Luna 18 fail?
A: Luna 18 failed to achieve a soft landing, making it the first Soviet attempt to do so that ended in failure.

### Q: What was the launch vehicle for Luna 18?
A: Luna 18 was launched using a Proton-K rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24.

### Q: What was the relationship between Luna 18 and other Luna missions?
A: Luna 18 was preceded by Luna 17 and followed by Luna 19, both of which were also part of the Luna programme.

### Q: Where can I find more information about Luna 18?
A: Additional information can be found on the official Luna 18 website: [http://www.laspace.ru/rus/luna18.html](http://www.laspace.ru/rus/luna18.html).

## Why It Matters
Luna 18 was a significant mission in the Soviet Luna programme, which aimed to explore the Moon and achieve a soft landing. The failure of Luna 18 marked a setback for the Soviet Union in its lunar exploration efforts. Despite the failure, the mission contributed valuable data and experience for future lunar missions. The Luna programme as a whole played a crucial role in advancing space exploration and paving the way for future lunar missions, including those by other space agencies.

## Notable For
- **First Soviet lunar soft landing failure**: Luna 18 was the first Soviet attempt to achieve a soft landing on the Moon that ended in failure.
- **Part of the Luna programme**: Luna 18 was one of several missions in the Soviet Luna programme, which aimed to explore the Moon.
- **Launched by Proton-K**: The mission utilized the Proton-K rocket, a powerful launch vehicle used for various Soviet space missions.
- **Baikonur Cosmodrome launch**: Luna 18 was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, a key site for Soviet space launches.
- **Preceded and followed by other Luna missions**: Luna 18 was preceded by Luna 17 and followed by Luna 19, both of which were also part of the Luna programme.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Luna 18 was a Soviet space probe launched on September 2, 1971, as part of the Luna programme. The mission aimed to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, a goal that had not yet been accomplished by the Soviet Union. The probe was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24 using a Proton-K rocket.

### Mission Failure
Despite its objectives, Luna 18 failed to achieve a soft landing, making it the first Soviet attempt to do so that ended in failure. The mission marked a setback for the Soviet Union in its lunar exploration efforts. However, the failure also provided valuable data and experience for future lunar missions.

### Relationship to Other Missions
Luna 18 was preceded by Luna 17 and followed by Luna 19, both of which were also part of the Luna programme. These missions contributed to the broader efforts of the Soviet Union to explore the Moon and advance space exploration.

### Significance
The Luna programme, of which Luna 18 was a part, played a crucial role in advancing space exploration. The programme aimed to achieve various objectives, including soft landings on the Moon, and contributed to the broader understanding of lunar geology and the Moon's environment. Despite the failure of Luna 18, the programme as a whole paved the way for future lunar missions, including those by other space agencies.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Spacecraft",
  "name": "Luna 18",
  "description": "A Soviet space probe launched in 1971 as part of the Luna programme, intended for a soft landing on the Moon but failed to achieve it.",
  "url": "http://www.laspace.ru/rus/luna18.html",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5448", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_18"],
  "additionalType": "SpaceProbe"
}

## References

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