Luna 14

Luna 14 was an unmanned Soviet lunar orbiter launched on April 7, 1968, as part of the Luna program. Its primary mission was to test the systems and equipment required for a manned lunar mission, specifically focusing on communication, navigation, and control systems. The spacecraft entered lunar orbit on April 10, 1968, and conducted extensive studies of the Moon and its surrounding space environment.

Specifically, Luna 14 gathered data on the lunar gravitational field, the propagation of radio signals from the Earth to the Moon, and the effects of charged particles from the Sun on lunar communications. These measurements were crucial for refining the understanding of lunar dynamics and ensuring the reliability of communication links necessary for future manned missions.

While Luna 14 did not land on the Moon, it played a significant role in the Soviet Union's lunar exploration efforts, providing valuable engineering and scientific data that informed the design and operation of later lunar probes, including those designed for sample return. The mission concluded after the spacecraft ran out of power.