Luna 28

Liftoff Time

No Earlier Than 2030

Mission Details

Launch Notes

First Russian sample return mission since Luna 24.

Luna 28

Wiki

Luna 28 (also named Luna-Grunt) is a proposed sample-return mission from the south polar region of the Moon. Luna 28 is planned to be composed of a stationary lander and a lunar rover. The rover would bring soil samples back to the lander and transfer them into the ascent stage, which would launch and insert itself into a 100-kilometer lunar orbit. While in lunar orbit, the soil-carrying capsule would be intercepted by an orbiting return module, which would perform all rendezvous operations and transfer the samples. After reloading the samples, the return vehicle separates from the orbiter and heads to Earth, while the orbital module continues its mission in the lunar orbit for at least three years. This mission architecture is a training for future Martian sample return missions.

Trans Lunar Injection

1 Payload

4,363 kilograms

Rocket

Active
Soyuz 2.1b/Fregat-M

Active Since 2011

RKK Energiya logo

Manufacturer

RKK Energiya

Price

$25.00 million

Rocket

Height: 46.94m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 7,500 kg

GTO: 3,250 kg

Liftoff Thrust

4,550 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 4.11m

Height: 11.43m

Stages

4

Strap-ons

4

Launch Site

Site 1S

Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia

Fastest Turnaround

24 days 22 hours