Which mission first returned samples from the Moon?

Luna 16, launched by the Soviet Union, was the first robotic spacecraft to return a sample from the Moon. It landed in September 1970, drilled into the lunar surface, and brought back about 101 grams of regolith. This was a major milestone in the Space Race and demonstrated automated sample return technology. The mission showed that robotic exploration could perform complex tasks previously reserved for human astronauts. Luna 16 set the stage for later sample-return missions from many worlds.