Show threadPhil StookeMay 8, 2025

Some Russians have argued that 23 and 24 are transposed in the interpretation I have given:

Kaydash, V. et al., 2013. Landing of the probes Luna 23 and Luna 24 remains an enigma. Planetary and Space Science, 89, pp.172-182.

Velichko, S. et al., 2022. Photometric analysis of the Luna spacecraft landing sites. Planetary and Space Science, 216, p.105475.

I don't find the argument convincing but it should be acknowledged.

#moon #luna23 #luna24

Show threadPhil StookeMay 7, 2025
Here is a close-up of Luna 23. It toppled and lies on its side with the return capsule at the upper right end. When LRO images first showed this the white object was interpreted as possibly a rock which the lander grazed while landing, damaging the drill. I think the fallen lander interpretation is probably correct. The area brightened by the landing rocket is hard to see on the south side and I may have taken it too far out. #moon #luna23
Show threadPhil StookeMay 7, 2025
These maps zoom in on the landing site of Luna 23. I think I am repeating myself here, as we did cover this in the lunar landing site sequence. Speaking of.. I guess that will need updating later this year. I am hoping Hakuto M2 'Resilience' will land safely in 4 weeks and there could be 2 more attempts later this year.
#moon #luna23
Show threadPhil StookeMay 6, 2025
This detail from my lunar sites map shows the Firefly site as well as the nearby Luna missions. As noted earlier, the Luna 15 site is very uncertain with several suggested locations. After the Hakuto M2 landing attempt I will release a new version of the whole map. #moon #luna23 #fireflyBGM1
Show threadPhil StookeMay 6, 2025
Here is a context map of the landing area in Mare Crisium. it is about 200 km south of the recent, very successful, Firefly Blue Ghost 1 landing site. Highlands about 50 km south of the site might have been visible but there was no camera on the lander. #moon #luna23
Show threadPhil StookeMay 6, 2025

Time for a quick look at Luna 23, a failed sample return mission. Here are some details:

https://lroc.im-ldi.com/images/461

This starts with Luna 24 and looks at the earlier lander lower down the page. An annotated image shows what seems to have happened. The lander came in with some sideways velocity and toppled over... rather like some recent landings. It was able to communicate and even to operate its drill but couldn't collect a sample (also like IM-2). #moon #luna23

Mare Crisium: Failure then Success

Luna 24 landed on the northwestern rim of a 64 m diameter impact crater, on the volcanic plains of Mare Crisium. Enlargement of lander at lower left, NAC M174868307L [NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University].