Russia heads back to the moon

The Luna 25 mission – Russia’s first trip to the moon in almost 50 years – aims to explore the south polar region, eyed by the U.S. and other nations as a site for future lunar bases


Launch: Vostochny Cosmodrome

Landing: North of Boguslavsky crater, thought to be rich in water ice

Study area

Boguslavsky 
South Pole


SOYUZ 2.1b
Fregat-M


LUNA 25 
Weight: 800kg

Camera
Camera

Instruments:
Include dust detectors, charged particle instruments, imaging systems, and array of spectrometers

Lander expected to study surface regolith and exospheric dust and particles, for one year

Solar array
Propulsion system

Lunar Robotic Arm:
1.6m arm equipped with scoop to collect samples at depths of 25cm


Russia and China working on long-term plan to set up permanent base on moon by 2028


Sources: Roscosmos Space Corp, NASA, Space.com 
Picture: NASA 
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