# Luna 20

> space probe

**Wikidata**: [Q761733](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q761733)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_20)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/luna-20

## Summary
Luna 20 was an unmanned space probe and artificial satellite launched by the Soviet Union as part of the Luna programme. Weighing 5,600 kilograms, it was launched on February 14, 1972, atop a Proton-K rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The mission followed Luna 19 and preceded the rover-deploying Luna 21 spacecraft.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Unmanned space probe and artificial satellite.
- **Launch Date:** February 14, 1972.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Proton-K (Russian/Soviet carrier rocket).
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/24.
- **Mass:** 5,600 kilograms.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1972-007A.
- **Program Affiliation:** Part of the Soviet Luna programme.
- **Mission Sequence:** Succeeded Luna 19 and preceded Luna 21.
- **NSSDC ID:** 1972-007A.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Luna 20 launched?
A: Luna 20 was launched on February 14, 1972, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Luna 20?
A: The probe was launched using a Proton-K carrier rocket, a standard Russian/Soviet launch vehicle used for heavy payloads.

### Q: What was the mass of the Luna 20 spacecraft?
A: The Luna 20 spacecraft had a total mass of 5,600 kilograms.

### Q: Where did Luna 20 fit in the Luna program timeline?
A: Luna 20 was part of the Luna programme. It followed the Luna 19 mission and was followed by Luna 21, which deployed the Lunokhod 2 rover.

## Why It Matters
Luna 20 serves as a specific historical data point in the timeline of the Soviet Luna programme, representing the ongoing exploration of outer space during the early 1970s. As a heavy spacecraft weighing 5,600 kg, it demonstrates the payload capabilities of the Proton-K rocket during that era. Its launch on February 14, 1972, bridges the gap between the lunar orbital operations of Luna 19 (launched in 1971) and the lunar surface rover operations of Luna 21 (launched in 1973). The mission highlights the systematic approach taken by Soviet space agencies to deploy artificial satellites and probes into outer space.

## Notable For
- Being a distinct mission in the Luna programme, following Luna 19.
- Utilizing the Proton-K launch vehicle, a prominent Soviet carrier rocket.
- A launch mass of 5,600 kilograms, classifying it as a significant robotic spacecraft.
- Its specific launch identifier: COSPAR ID 1972-007A.
- Being an "instance of" both a space probe and an artificial satellite.

## Body
### Mission Overview
Luna 20 is classified as an unmanned robotic spacecraft (space probe) and an artificial satellite. It was designed to explore further into outer space rather than orbit the Earth. It is part of the broader Luna programme, a series of robotic probe missions flown by the Soviet Union.

### Launch Specifications
The spacecraft was successfully launched on **February 14, 1972**. The launch occurred at the **Baikonur Cosmodrome**, specifically from **Site 81/24**. The vehicle used to propel the probe was the **Proton-K**, a Russian (formerly Soviet) carrier rocket.

### Technical Specifications
The Luna 20 spacecraft had a recorded mass of **5,600 kilograms**. It is identified in international registries under the COSPAR ID **1972-007A** and the NSSDC ID **1972-007A**.

### Program Context
In the sequence of the Luna programme, Luna 20 followed **Luna 19**, a space probe launched previously. It was subsequently followed by **Luna 21**, a spacecraft noted for landing on the Moon and deploying the Lunokhod 2 lunar rover.

## Schema Markup
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{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Luna 20",
  "description": "An unmanned space probe and artificial satellite launched in 1972 as part of the Soviet Luna programme.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1064",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luna_20"
  ],
  "additionalType": [
    "SpaceProbe",
    "ArtificialSatellite"
  ],
  "identifier": {
    "@type": "PropertyValue",
    "name": "COSPAR ID",
    "value": "1972-007A"
  }
}

## References

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