The unmanned craft was due to make a soft landing on the Moon's south pole, but failed after encountering issues as it moved into its pre-landing orbit.

It was Russia's first Moon mission in almost 50 years.

The spacecraft was scheduled to land on Monday to explore a part of the Moon which scientists think could hold frozen water and precious elements.

Roskosmos, Russia's state space corporation, said it lost contact with the Luna-25 shortly after running into difficulties.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (9 children)

Do you know the background for this? What do they want to achieve now that they didn't in '76?

I get that it's a space race between Russia and India, but surely there must be more to it. Is it just the prestige of landing on the south pole?

[–] Agamemnon 13 points 2 years ago (4 children)

Not really a race (media just likes to frame it that way)

Main goal is prospecting for potential base locations, because the poles have the best chances of finding easily accessible water ice.

And yeah, prestige too, because landing from polar orbit is more difficult.

[–] JimmyMcGill 7 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Why is it harder to land in the poles? I’m not doubting you, just curious

[–] Agamemnon 16 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Mainly, because the poles are always just barely within line of sight to Earth (and thus line of communications) if at all. So the probe has to either operate autonomously or you have to maintain coms via a relay satellite. Either isn't exactly easy with hardware that must also be radiation-hardened and lightweight. Initiating the deorbit burn should (I am guessing this) be done from the backside or you'll run into even more problems when you overshoot the landing site.

[–] JimmyMcGill 5 points 2 years ago

Thanks for sharing. That all makes sense.

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