Luna 24 mission returns lunar soil samples to Earth

Launched on August 9, 1976, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Luna 24 was the final mission of the Soviet Luna program. The robotic probe landed nine days later in the Mare Crisium (Sea of Crises) region of the Moon.

During its mission, the probe drilled approximately 200 centimeters into the lunar soil, collecting a core sample weighing about 170 grams (6 ounces). The return capsule successfully landed on Earth on August 22, 1976.

Scientific analysis of the returned regolith provided significant insights into the chemical and mineral composition of the lunar surface. Most notably, researchers discovered tiny traces of water within the samples, representing approximately 0.1% of the mass.