Russia returns to the Moon after nearly five decades

2023-08-08 10:11:43

If everything goes as planned, Russia will send, this Friday, the first module to the Moon since 1976. The Luna-25, manufactured exclusively with Russian components, is heading to the lunar South Pole, where it will collect soil samples.

The Soyuz rocket was assembled at the Vostotchny cosmodrome and it is estimated that the trip will take four to five days, according to the Roscosmos agency.

This mission proves to be crucial for Moscow, which seeks to develop space projects with China, at a time when partnerships with the West are compromised, namely with the European Space Agency, which has refused to cooperate in this program and in other future lunar programs.