Luna 19

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Orbital elements
Luna 19

Organization	Soviet Union
Major contractors	GSMZ Lavochkin
Mission type	Planetary Science Lunar orbiter
Launch	September 28, 1971 at 10:00:22 UTC
Launch vehicle	Proton 8K82K + Blok D
Mission highlight	Entered lunar orbit on October 3, 1971
Mission duration	~388-days ~October 20, 1972
Mass	5,700 kg (5,600 kg dry)
NSSDC ID	1971-082A
Webpage	NASA NSSDC Master Catalog
Satellite of	Moon
Semimajor axis	6,517.8 km
Eccentricity	0.18
Inclination	40.58°
Orbital period	121.13 min
Apoastron	140 km
Periastron	140 km
Orbits	~4,315
Instruments
Imaging system Gamma-ray spectrometer Radio altimeter Meteoroid detectors Magnetometer Cosmic-ray detectors Radiation detectors

Luna 19 (a.k.a. Lunik 19) (Ye-8-LS series), was an unmanned space mission of the Luna program. Luna 19 extended the systematic study of lunar gravitational fields and location of mascons (mass concentrations). It also studied the lunar radiation environment, the gamma-active lunar surface, and the solar wind. Photographic coverage via a television system was also obtained.

Luna 19 was the first of the “advanced” lunar orbiters whose design was based upon the same Ye-8-class bus used for the lunar rovers and the sample collectors. For these orbiters, designated Ye-8LS, the basic “lander stage” was topped off by a wheelless Lunokhod-like frame that housed all scientific instrumentation in a pressurized container.

Luna 19 was launched into an earth parking orbit on 28 September, and, from this orbit, was sent toward the Moon. Luna 19 entered an orbit around the Moon on 2 October 1971 after two midcourse corrections on 29 September and 1 October. Initial orbital parameters were 140 x 140 kilometers at 40.58° inclination.

Soon afterward, the spacecraft began its main imaging mission — providing panoramic images of the mountainous region of the Moon between 30° and 60° south latitude and between 20° and 80° east longitude. Other scientific experiments included extensive studies on the shape and strength of the lunar gravitational field and the locations of the mascons. Occultation experiments in May and June 1972 allowed scientists to determine the concentration of charged particles at an altitude of 10 kilometers. Additional studies of the solar wind were evidently coordinated with those performed by the Mars 2 and 3 orbiters and Veneras 7 and 8. Communications with Luna 19 were terminated some time between 3 and 20 October 1972, after a year of operation and more than 4,000 revolutions around the Moon.