For the first time in almost 50 years, Russia is sending a space probe to the moon: “Luna 25” is taking off from the new Vostochny spaceport. The Roskosmos space agency is hoping for more than just soil samples.
In February 1966, Soviet television once again celebrated a pioneering act in the cosmos. After several failed attempts, an unmanned probe had managed to land gently on the moon. At that time it was said: “For the first time in history, the Soviet, fully automated probe ‘Luna 9’ landed softly on the lunar surface. This extraordinary scientific experiment was observed by observatories around the world.”
Last probe to the moon almost 50 years ago
After the first satellite and the first man in the cosmos, the USSR once again took the lead in the space race with the USA. It has been almost 50 years since the Soviet Union last sent a probe to the moon. Russia is now making another attempt.
Actually, the probe should have started years ago – the European Space Agency ESA was originally involved, but got out after Russia invaded Ukraine. In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the moon mission would take place soon. At that time he said:
We will definitely, consistently and persistently implement all plans.
Russia will resume the lunar program, Putin also said. And: “We are talking about the launch of an autonomous probe from the Vostochny cosmodrome, the space robot probe ‘Luna 25’.”
Launcher is scheduled to launch on Friday
According to previous plans, the “Soyuz 2.1 b” carrier rocket is to start on Friday night from the spaceport in Russia’s Far East. The landing four to five days later is planned near the south pole of the satellite.
The probe’s chief designer, Pavel Kazmerchuk, emphasizes that reducing its weight was one of the main tasks. He described the weight as the biggest hurdle – it was the biggest challenge. Kazmertschuk also explains: “We had strict guidelines and we can’t fill up with more fuel than the capacity of the tanks allowed.” That’s why weight was saved on all other parts of the module.
Russia wants to build international lunar station
The predecessor “Luna 24” weighed almost six tons – now the weight is less than 800 kilograms. The landing area near the south pole of the moon is new territory for Russian space travel. The probe will not only help to develop technology for soft landings in difficult terrain, but also take soil samples and study the nature of the terrain.
A lunar base is expected to be built in the target area by 2040, according to Alexander Bloschenko, Roscosmos executive director for advanced space programs. He hopes that this area of the moon will prove to be suitable for building the international lunar station there in the future.
Mission is scheduled to last a year
Also of particular interest are the frozen water deposits that exist in a crater at the moon’s south pole. “Luna 25” should also look for that. All in all, the moon mission is a huge challenge for Russian space travel, according to Russian space expert Mikhail Kotov. “Starting a mission, landing it softly, working out all the phases – it’s quite difficult, especially since the know-how was partially lost when some of the specialists left the industry in the 1990s.” The mission is scheduled to last one year.