Luna 25 objectives to be achieved by future missions - Roscosmos head

MOSCOW. Aug 25 (Interfax) - The Russian lunar program has to be adjusted to achieve the objectives of the lost Luna 25 mission, Roscosmos head Yury Borisov said.

"Since our first mission did not end as intended, we should adjust the entire lunar program to implement its unattained potential in the process as planned," Borisov said on the Rossiya-24 television channel (VGTRK).

Earlier on Friday, Borisov chaired a working meeting at NPO Lavochkin to discuss the cause of the Luna 25 crash with developers and scientists.

The possibility of another attempt to land on the Moon's South Pole in 2025-2026 is being considered after the Luna 25 crash, Roscosmos said.

The first lunar mission in Russia's modern history began on August 11, when a Soyuz-2.1b rocket with a Fregat upper stage carrying Luna 25 took off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome.

Luna 25 was due to touch down on the lunar South Pole on August 21, but instead it crashed into the Moon on August 19.

Borisov said on August 21 that the main reason for the Luna 25 crash was a malfunction during engine shutdown. "Instead of the planned 84 seconds, it worked for 127 seconds. This was the main cause of the lander's crash," he said.

Russia must not stop the lunar program and has to continue the lunar race in order to achieve technological sovereignty, Borisov said. "I believe that by expediting the Luna 26 and Luna 27 missions, we will achieve the results we failed to attain in the Luna 25 mission because of the crash," he said.

Borisov said on August 11 that the Luna 26 mission would begin in 2027, followed by Luna 27 in 2028 and Luna 28 either by 2030 or later.