Russia to Launch Lunar Lander, Luna-25, in Historic Moon Mission
Russia is set to make a significant return to the moon with the launch of Luna-25, a moderate-size robotic lander. This mission marks the first time since the space race with the United States in the 1960s and 1970s that Russia will embark on lunar exploration. The project, which has been in development for years, signals President Vladimir V. Putin’s aim to position Russia as a great power through its achievements in space.
The launch is scheduled for Thursday at 7:10 p.m. Eastern time from the Vostochny spaceport in Russia’s far eastern region. Those interested can watch the coverage of the launch on the Russian television network RT and Roscosmos’ YouTube channel.
After NASA’s successful Apollo moon landings, interest in the moon waned among space agencies worldwide. However, the discovery of water ice in the moon’s polar regions has sparked a renewed fascination with Earth’s satellite. Russia has been making efforts to revive its lunar program for the past 25 years, with aspirations of sending Russian astronauts to the moon in the future.
The Luna-25 lander is said to be based on the architecture of the Soviet Union’s previous moon landing missions in the 1970s. It is a scaled-down version equipped with modern technological advancements. Nevertheless, the Russian space program has faced challenges due to limited funding, economic sanctions following the Ukraine invasion, and technological limitations.
Critics have suggested that the news of Russia’s moon mission is more about political symbolism than the actual launch. Denis Shiryaev, a Russian blogger who covers technology, commented that the Russian government is seeking victories to showcase their defiance towards sanctions.
During the mission, Luna-25 will be launched on a Soyuz rocket and placed into orbit around Earth. The rocket’s upper stage will then propel the lander towards the moon, where it will enter a circular orbit 60 miles above the surface. Over the course of about seven days, Luna-25 will adjust its orbit to come within a dozen miles of the moon’s surface. Its primary target is a landing site north of Boguslawsky crater, where it will conduct experiments and potentially uncover water ice below the surface.
Various countries have attempted lunar landings in recent years, with China being the only successful participant. Russia’s mission coincides with India’s Chandrayaan 3, which also aims to land in the moon’s south polar region.
Luna-25 is just the beginning of Russia’s ambitious plans for lunar exploration. Future missions include Luna-26, an orbiter, and Luna-27, a larger and more advanced lander. While Russia cooperates with NASA on the International Space Station, it has declined to join NASA’s Artemis program for moon missions. Instead, Russia has announced plans to collaborate with China in building a lunar base in the 2030s.
However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the European Space Agency (ESA) terminating its collaboration with Roscosmos on planetary missions. As a consequence, the ESA’s experimental navigation camera was removed from Luna-25, and cooperation on the ExoMars mission was discontinued.
Russia’s launch of Luna-25 represents a significant step in its lunar exploration ambitions. The success of this mission could pave the way for future Russian achievements in space and potentially establish a new era of lunar exploration.