Roscosmos announced the postponement of the launch date of the Russian automatic interplanetary station “Luna-25” to May 2022. According to the original plans, the launch from the Vostochny cosmodrome was to take place on October 1, 2021.
It is indicated that the new start date corresponds to the second possible “launch window”. The reason for the postponement of the launch was called the need for “additional confirmation of the declared characteristics of instruments, units and propulsion” station, identified “in the course of ground experimental testing.” It is noted that additional testing is required under terrestrial conditions, as close as possible to space ones.
It is emphasized that “the board of the Luna-25 spacecraft is fully equipped” with equipment, but checks are required “to ensure the required reliability of the first Russian mission to the Moon.”
Roskosmos also said that in preparation for the launch of Luna-25, the experience of sending the Nauka laboratory module to the ISS will be taken into account.
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