|In 1972, the Soviet unmanned spaceship Luna 20 lands on the
Moon.| Luna 20 (Ye-8-5 series) was an unmanned space mission of
the Luna program, also called Lunik 20. Luna 20 was placed in an
intermediate Earth parking orbit and from this orbit was sent
towards the Moon. It entered lunar orbit on February 18, 1972.
On February 21, 1972, Luna 20 soft landed on the Moon in a
mountainous area known as the Apollonius highlands near Mare
Fecunditatis (Sea of Fertility), 120 km from where Luna 16 had
landed. |While on the lunar surface, the panoramic television
system was operated. Lunar samples were obtained by means of an
extendable drilling apparatus. The ascent stage of Luna 20 was
launched from the lunar surface on 22 February 1972 carrying 30
grams of collected lunar samples in a sealed capsule. It landed
in the Soviet Union on 25 February 1972. | The lunar samples
were recovered the following day. Pulsating green in colour, the
samples proved beyond any doubt what many had already suspected
- that the 1969 lan