Russia marked a significant moment in its space exploration journey by launching its first lunar landing spacecraft in 47 years on August 10.
The robotic module named Luna-25 is aimed at the Moon’s south polar region, signifying Russia’s return to lunar missions since the iconic space race with the U.S. during the 1960s and 1970s.
The spacecraft took off atop a Soyuz rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East.
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The entire event was broadcasted by Roscosmos, the national space agency, on their official YouTube channel.
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In this handout picture taken and released by the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos on August 11, 2023, a Soyuz 2.1b rocket with the Luna-25 lander blasts off from the launch pad at the Vostochny cosmodrome, some 180 km north of Blagoveschensk, in the Amur region. Russia launched its first probe to the Moon in almost 50 years on August 11, 2023, a mission designed to give fresh impetus to its space sector, which has been struggling for years and become isolated by the conflict in Ukraine. The launch of the Luna-25 probe is Moscow’s first lunar mission since 1976, when the USSR was a pioneer in the conquest of space. The spacecraft is due to reach lunar orbit in five days. (Photo by Handout / Russian Space Agency Roscosmos / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / Russian Space Agency Roscosmos / handout” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
After its launch, Luna-25 is expected to travel toward the Moon for roughly five days.
It will then spend between 3 to 7 days in lunar orbit before attempting its landing near the south pole.
A statement released by the Tass state news agency on August 10 highlighted, “The ‘Luna-25’ automatic station represents modern Russia’s first endeavor to explore Earth’s natural satellite.
The apparatus, delivered to the Vostochny Cosmodrome in July, aims to conduct research in the Moon’s south polar region, with plans to land near the Boguslavsk crater.”
It’s noteworthy that Russia’s last mission to the Moon was in 1976.
Luna 24 had successfully returned to Earth with lunar dust and rock samples. At that time, Russia was part of the Soviet Union, which dissolved in 1991.
This mission had been in the planning stages before the tensions surrounding Russia’s involvement in Ukraine.
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