Luna-25

Luna-25

News: The Russian space agency, Roscomos, has successfully launched its first lunar lander in 47 years, marking a  significant milestone in its space program.

What is Luna 25?
• Luna 25 is a lunar lander mission by Roscosmos, the Russian space agency.
• It was launched on August 10, 2023, and it is expected to land near the lunar south pole at the crater Boguslawsky on August 21 or 22, 2023.
• Luna 25 is the first lunar probe that Russia has sent to the moon since the Soviet era, and it is part of the Luna-Glob lunar exploration program.
• The launch vehicle of Luna 25 was a Soyuz-2 Fregat booster. This is a Russian rocket that consists of a Soyuz-2 core stage and a Fregat upper stage.

What is the main objective?
• The main objective of Luna 25 is to test the landing technology and perform scientific measurements on the lunar surface.
• The mission will carry 30 kg of scientific instruments, including a robotic arm for soil samples and possible drilling hardware.

What experiments will it perform?
• Studying the chemical composition and physical properties of the lunar regolith (soil) and rocks.
• Measuring the temperature, pressure, and density of the lunar atmosphere.
• Detecting possible traces of water ice and other volatiles in the polar regions.
• Investigating the plasma environment and magnetic anomalies near the landing site.
• Testing a laser retroreflector for precise orbit determination and navigation