Russia Launches Lunar Mission, in Race with India’s Chandrayaan-3 to Reach the Moon – News18

Russia launched a Soyuz rocket carrying a probe to the Moon on Friday, reside photos confirmed, kicking off its first mission to the celestial physique in practically 50 years. The rocket with the Luna-25 probe lifted off at 02:10 am Moscow time (2310 GMT Thursday) from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, in accordance with reside photos broadcast by the Russian area company Roscosmos.

The spacecraft is because of attain lunar orbit in 5 days. It will then spend between three and 7 days choosing the proper spot earlier than touchdown within the lunar south pole space. Roscosmos expects the probe to land on the Moon round August 21, a supply within the company advised AFP.

The spacecraft, which can stay on the Moon for a 12 months, will likely be tasked with “taking (samples) and analysing the soil” as well as “conducting long-term scientific research”, the Russian area company stated.

The launch is the primary mission in Russia’s new lunar programme, which will get underway at a time when Roscosmos is being disadvantaged of its partnerships with the West amid the battle with Ukraine.

The Russian lunar mission, the primary since 1976, is racing in opposition to India, which despatched up its Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander final month to the south facet of the moon. More broadly, post-Soviet Russia’s race is with the US and China, which each have superior lunar exploration programmes.

The mission is essential for the Russian area sector, which is affected by funding issues, corruption scandals and growing competitors from the federal government, in addition to from non-public initiatives resembling billionaire Elon Musk’s Space X.

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated news company feed – AFP)