Russia's Luna-25 lander successfully enters Moon orbit, marking the first Russian mission to the Moon in almost 50 years.
MOSCOW: Moscow's Luna-25 lander successfully entered the Moon's orbit on Wednesday, marking Russia's first lunar mission in nearly five decades, according to the space agency Roscosmos.
With this lunar launch, Russia aims to revive and build upon the pioneering space endeavors of the Soviet Union. This mission marks a significant step in Russia's contemporary space history as an automated station was placed into lunar orbit for the first time since 1976, as confirmed by a Roscosmos spokesperson.
The Luna-25 probe is set to maintain an orbit approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) above the Moon's surface before planning a landing on Monday near the Boguslawsky crater in the lunar south pole region.
"All systems of 'Luna-25' are operating normally, and communication remains stable," the spokesperson reassured.
Equipped with cameras, the lander has already captured images of the Earth and Moon from its vantage point in space. Weighing about 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds), the lander was transported into space via a Soyuz rocket launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East.
The mission's objectives span over a year during which the lander is tasked with collecting soil samples and conducting analyses on the Moon's surface.
This milestone arrives at a time when Russia's longstanding collaboration with Western countries in space faces uncertainty due to Russia's ongoing actions in Ukraine. Despite these challenges, Russia remains committed to its lunar plans, even as the European Space Agency announces its decision not to cooperate with Russia on future missions due to the situation in Ukraine.
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