Luna 14

Launch data: Designation 03178 / 68027A Launch date 07 Apr 1968 - 10:09:32 UT Launch site B, LC1 Launch vehicle Molniya 8K78M (s/n°: Ya716-58) Satellite type  E-6LS n° 113 Mission Lunar orbiter Selenocentric (Moon) orbit on 1968 Apr 10.81 Periselene / Aposelene 160 x 870 km Inclination 42° Eccentricity 0 .158 Orbital periode 160 min

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Mission details:

• Luna 14 (E-6LS series) was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program run by the Soviet Union. It was also called Lunik 14.
• The Luna 14 successfully entered a 160 x 870 km lunar orbit with an inclination of 42 degrees at 19:25 UT on 10 April 1968 . The spacecraft is believed to have been similar to Luna 12 and the instrumentation was similar to that carried by Luna 10. It provided data for studies of the interaction of the earth and lunar masses, the lunar gravitational field, the propagation and stability of radio communications to the spacecraft at different orbital positions, solar charged particles and cosmic rays, and the motion of the Moon.
• Not revealed until years later was that the E-6LS was primarily intended to test tracking and communications networks for the Soviet manned lunar program. This flight was the final flight of the second generation of the Luna series.
• The primary goal of the flight was to test communications systems in support of the N1-L3 piloted lunar landing project. Ground tracking of the spacecraft’s orbit also allowed controllers to accurately map lunar gravitational anomalies in order to predict trajectories of future lunar missions such as those of the LOK and LK lunar landing vehicles. Luna 14 also carried scientific instruments to study cosmic rays and charged particles from the Sun, although few details have been revealed.