Luna-25 to launch Friday, Russia's first moon mission in 50 years

Luna-25 to launch Friday, Russia's first moon mission in 50 years
by Robert Schreiber
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Aug 07, 2023

After a long hiatus of nearly fifty years, Russia is gearing up to return to the Moon with its Luna-25 lunar lander, setting the stage for a new era in lunar exploration.

The Russian space agency announced Monday that the Luna-25 lander, powered by a Soyuz rocket, is set for an August 11 launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Amur Oblast at 2:10 a.m. Moscow time, The mission marks Moscow's first lunar endeavor since the Luna-24 mission in 1976.

Luna-24 previously made headlines when its return capsule successfully transported about 170 grams of lunar soil back to Earth. However, the Luna-25 mission aims even higher, seeking to etch its name in history by becoming the first mssion to land on the Moon's south pole.

But it's not just the landing location that sets Luna-25 apart. This mission will not include a return capsule. Instead, its primary objectives are to perfect the soft landing technologies, delve into the Moon's internal structure, and investigate resources, with a special focus on water availability.

After separating from the Soyuz upper stage, Luna-25 will travel toward the Moon. Within approximately four and a half days, it will initiate its lunar orbital phase, making several adjustments before eventually descending to the south pole region. The mission's scientific operations on the lunar surface are anticipated to span a year.

However, not all aspects of the mission have gone as originally planned. In April 2022, the European Space Agency (ESA) took a firm stance, severing its collaborative ties with Russia's trio of lunar missions - Luna-25, 26, and 27, in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. This followed a similar ESA decision to halt collaboration on the ExoMars project.

Originally, ESA's navigation camera, Pilot-D, was slated for integration on the Luna-25 probe. However, following the termination of the ESA-Russia partnership, ESA Director-General Josef Aschbacher announced the removal of the camera from the launch. Instead, ESA has redirected its energies, now partnering with commercial service providers and NASA for testing and deploying equipment originally meant for the Russian missions.

With Luna-25's launch fast approaching, the world watches with bated breath, anticipating the next chapter in the saga of lunar exploration.