Russia’s Luna-25 moon probe, which was meant to be the country’s first moon mission in nearly 50 years, has crashed on the moon’s surface during pre-landing manoeuvres, according to the Russian space agency Roscosmos. Communication with the probe was lost, and preliminary findings suggest that the lander ceased to exist after colliding with the moon’s surface. An investigation will be launched to determine the causes of the crash.
The Luna-25 probe was part of Russia’s effort to return to independent lunar exploration, building on the legacy of its Soviet-era Luna program. The probe, weighing 800 kilograms, was designed to make a soft landing on the lunar south pole, a historically significant landing site, and explore a region scientists believe may contain frozen water and valuable elements. This detection of water could have significant implications for future lunar exploration, including potential resource mining and longer human stays on the moon.
The crash of the Luna-25 probe represents a setback for Russia’s lunar exploration ambitions, but it also underscores the complexities and risks associated with space missions, especially those involving soft landings on celestial bodies. The loss of communication and crash of the probe highlight the challenges of safely navigating and landing on the moon’s surface.
