Russia reviews ‘irregular scenario’ at Luna-25 spacecraft
Russia has reported an “abnormal situation” at its moon-bound spacecraft which launched earlier this month.
Luna-25 is an unmanned robotic lander and the nation’s first mission to the lunar surface in almost 50 years.
It’s focusing on a historic landing on the moon’s south pole on Monday, however seems to have run into unspecified hassle whereas making ready for a pre-landing orbit.
Russia‘s house company, Roskosmos, mentioned its specialists had been analysing the scenario.
No additional particulars have been offered.
A Soyuz rocket with the moon lander Luna-25 takes off from the Vostochny cosmodrome earlier this month. Pic: AP
Historic launch to seek out water ice
It comes every week after the craft’s data-collecting gear was switched on following its launch from Russia’s Vostochny cosmodrome within the nation’s far japanese Amur area.
The measurement of a small automobile, it blasted off on a Soyuz rocket earlier this month and entered the moon’s orbit on Wednesday.
Russia hopes when Luna-25 lands, it should spend a yr gathering samples of rock and dirt to get a way of whether or not the moon might assist a everlasting base for people.
The area the place it is aiming to land is understood for its tough terrain, however can be thought to carry pockets of water ice.
If it does, it may very well be used for gas, oxygen, and consuming water, doubtlessly permitting for longer human journeys.
Russia is racing towards India to make the bold touchdown, with its rival having launched its own lunar lander Chandrayaan-3 final month.
Space companies together with NASA have detected frozen water within the moon’s south pole craters earlier than, however no nation has ever truly ventured into the area.