Russia’s Luna-25 lunar mission failed

Russia’s lunar exploration suffered a setback as the Luna-25 spacecraft, part of a significant lunar mission, ended in a crash landing on the moon’s surface. The mission was initiated by Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, and was launched using a Soyuz-2.1b rocket booster alongside a Fregat upper stage. The lunar landing spacecraft, Luna-25, took off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the far eastern Amur region of Russia on August 11, 2023.

However, on August 19, Roscosmos reported losing contact with the Luna-25 spacecraft due to technical difficulties and an abnormal situation encountered while attempting to enter the pre-landing orbit. Despite efforts to re-establish communication, the spacecraft could not be located. Eventually, preliminary analysis indicated that Luna-25 had collided with the lunar surface and ceased to exist.

Reason behind Luna-25 crash:

The unfortunate crash followed Luna-25 deviating from its intended orbital path, entering an uncontrolled trajectory. The mission aimed to make history by accomplishing a soft landing on the moon’s south pole, a goal Moscow pursued in hopes of becoming the first nation to achieve this milestone since Luna-24’s robotic mission in 1976.This undertaking marked Russia’s first endeavour to touch down on the moon in nearly five decades. Just before the crash, Roscosmos had issued a command on August 20, 2023, instructing the lander to enter the pre-landing orbit. Unfortunately, an emergency situation prevented the spacecraft from executing the necessary manoeuvres according to plan.

Coinciding with imminent lunar landings by Russia and India, the global lunar exploration landscape became increasingly crowded. The Luna-25 spacecraft embarked on its journey from the Vostochny Cosmodrome on August 11, offering glimpses of the Zeeman crater on the lunar surface through transmitted images. Its landing was scheduled for August 21, a mere two days ahead of an Indian lunar mission. Both countries were racing to establish their presence near the moon’s south pole, joining the ranks of the United States and China in this pursuit.

Designed with a 1.6-meter-long robotic arm, the Russian lander was equipped with a collection scoop to gather rocks, soil, and dust from the moon’s terrain. The mission aimed to study the composition of the south pole region and investigate traces of frozen water that had been detected. Access to these resources holds paramount importance, as they not only have the potential to support life but can also serve as valuable ingredients for rocket fuel, potentially transforming the moon into a strategic hub for future interplanetary travel.

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