Luna 12 was an uncrewed Soviet lunar orbiter launched in 1966 as part of the Luna program. Its primary objective was to photograph the lunar surface from orbit to gather detailed imagery that would aid in selecting landing sites for future crewed missions. The spacecraft carried television cameras and other scientific instruments to study the Moon’s surface and near-lunar space.
The mission provided valuable data about the Moon’s radiation environment and the density of micrometeoroids. The images obtained were crucial for refining lunar maps and identifying regions of interest for subsequent exploration. This endeavor advanced the Soviet Union’s understanding of the Moon and contributed significantly to the burgeoning field of lunar science during the Space Race era.
