Russia is preparing to launch a lunar mission, the first in nearly 50 years, in competition with India’s Chandrayaan-3 program. The Russian lunar lander, named ‘Luna 25’, is scheduled for launch with a Soyuz rocket on 11 August 2023.
- Luna 25 aims to touch down on the moon’s surface, specifically in the region of the Moon’s south pole.
- The mission’s primary objective is to assess whether the Moon’s south pole region contains ice, potentially important for future human habitation.
- The Luna-25 mission is part of Russia’s broader efforts to revive and advance its lunar exploration program.
- Russia has a history of notable achievements in lunar exploration, including several firsts such as impact, flyby, and soft landing missions.
- Russia intends to collaborate with China on the International Lunar Research Station, targeted to be operational by 2035.
- India is also in the competition with its Chandrayaan-3 mission, aiming to land a rover near the Moon’s south pole.
- India’s previous lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, experienced a failed soft landing attempt in 2019.
- Both Russia and India are vying to be the first to explore the uncharted lunar territory of the Moon’s south pole.
- Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, has indicated that there is no collision risk between the Luna 25 and Chandrayaan-3 missions.
Q.: What is the name of the Russian lunar lander set to launch on this mission?
a) Chandrayaan-3
b) Luna 25
c) Artemis
d) Lunar Rover-1
Ans : b) Luna 25
