Mission Summary
Luna 22 was the most productive Soviet lunar orbiter and the last one the Soviet Union or Russia would ever fly. Launched May 29, 1974, it was the second of the advanced Ye-8-based orbiters, sent to survey the Moon in detail from orbit.
It entered lunar orbit on June 2, 1974 and lowered itself into a close mapping orbit, returning the best Soviet imagery of the lunar surface yet obtained. Alongside its photography it measured the chemistry of the surface, tracked meteoroid activity, searched for a lunar magnetic field, and gauged solar and cosmic radiation, shifting its orbit repeatedly to carry out gravitational experiments.
The spacecraft worked flawlessly well beyond its primary mission, still returning pictures 15 months after arrival. Its maneuvering propellant finally ran out in September 1975, and the mission was formally ended that November. No dedicated Soviet or Russian lunar orbiter has flown since.
Sources and notes can be found on the Sources page.
