# Lunokhod 1

> Soviet lunar rover; first rover to operate on the Moon

**Wikidata**: [Q261052](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q261052)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunokhod_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lunokhod-1

## Summary
Lunokhod 1 was a Soviet lunar rover and the first remote-controlled robot to operate on the surface of the Moon. Launched on November 10, 1970, aboard the Luna 17 spacecraft, it successfully landed on the Moon seven days later. Weighing 756 kilograms, it was a solar-powered vehicle designed to explore the lunar terrain.

## Key Facts
- **Type:** Soviet lunar rover; first rover to operate on the Moon.
- **Launch Date:** November 10, 1970.
- **Lunar Arrival:** November 17, 1970.
- **Mass:** 756 kilograms.
- **Carrier Spacecraft:** Part of the Luna 17 space probe.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Proton rocket.
- **Launch Site:** Baikonur Cosmodrome.
- **Operator:** Soviet Union.
- **Designations:** COSPAR ID 1970-095D; NSSDCA ID 1970-095D.
- **Successor:** Lunokhod 2.

## FAQs
### Q: When did Lunokhod 1 land on the Moon?
A: Lunokhod 1 landed on the Moon on November 17, 1970. It was carried there by the Luna 17 spacecraft.

### Q: What was the mass of Lunokhod 1?
A: The rover had a mass of 756 kilograms.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Lunokhod 1?
A: It was launched using a Proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Soviet Union.

## Why It Matters
Lunokhod 1 holds a pivotal place in the history of space exploration as the first successful mobile robot to traverse the surface of another celestial body. While previous missions had landed stationary probes, Lunokhod 1 demonstrated the feasibility of remote-controlled, wheeled transportation on the rugged lunar terrain. This achievement provided the Soviet Union with critical data regarding lunar soil mechanics and remote vehicle operations.

As a solar-powered vehicle, it also proved the viability of using solar energy to sustain operations in the harsh environment of space. Its success paved the way for its successor, Lunokhod 2, and laid the conceptual groundwork for modern Mars rovers like Sojourner and Curiosity. By moving beyond static observation to mobile exploration, Lunokhod 1 fundamentally changed how humanity interacts with and studies planetary surfaces.

## Notable For
- Being the **first rover** to operate on the Moon.
- Being the **first remote-controlled mobile robot** to explore another world.
- Operating as a **solar vehicle** on the lunar surface.
- Being deployed by the **Luna 17** mission.
- Weighing **756 kilograms**, making it a heavy, sophisticated piece of machinery for its time.

## Body
### Mission Origins and Design
Lunokhod 1 was a Soviet lunar rover designated as the first of its kind to operate on the Moon. It is classified as an instance of a lunar rover and a solar vehicle. The rover was also known by the alias Ye-8.

### Launch and Deployment
The mission began with a rocket launch on November 10, 1970. The launch took place at the Baikonur Cosmodrome and utilized a Proton launch vehicle. The rover was a component of the Luna 17 space probe, which carried it to lunar orbit.

### Lunar Operations
Upon reaching the Moon, Lunokhod 1 began its presence on the astronomical body on November 17, 1970. It was operated remotely by the Soviet Union. The vehicle remained distinct as the first operational rover until the deployment of its successor, Lunokhod 2 (deployed by Luna 21).

### Technical Identifiers
The mission is tracked under the COSPAR ID 1970-095D and the NSSDCA ID 1970-095D. Additional records identify it via the Freebase ID /m/0c8np.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Lunokhod 1",
  "description": "Soviet lunar rover; first rover to operate on the Moon.",
  "url": "http://selena.sai.msu.ru/Home/Spacecrafts/Lunokhod1/lunokhod1e.htm",
  "additionalType": [
    "Lunar Rover",
    "Solar Vehicle"
  ],
  "identifier": {
    "@type": "PropertyValue",
    "propertyID": "COSPAR ID",
    "value": "1970-095D"
  }
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013