Next lunar missions may be launched ahead of schedule - Roscosmos head

BAKU. Oct 3 (Interfax) - Roscosmos is considering an earlier launch of the next Russian lunar missions, Luna 26 and Luna 27, Roscosmos head Yury Borisov said.

"No one is going to give up, we are determined to continue the lunar program. What is more, we are considering the possibility of expediting the Luna 26 and Luna 27 missions so that we can achieve the necessary results as soon as possible," Borisov told reporters on Tuesday.

Roscosmos said earlier on Tuesday that an interagency commission has prepared recommendations for the next lunar missions so that the causes of the Luna 25 crash are not repeated.

Luna 25, the first lunar landing mission in Russia's post-Soviet history, lifted off aboard a Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with a Fregat upper stage from Vostochny Cosmodrome on August 11.

The spacecraft's soft landing on the Moon's south pole was supposed to take place on August 21, but the lander was lost on August 19 after crashing into the lunar surface.

On August 21, Borisov said that the Luna 25 engine's failure to shut down properly caused the lander's crash. "Instead of the planned 84 seconds, it worked for 127 seconds. This was the main cause of the lander's crash", he said.

On August 25, Borisov said that Russia was considering making another attempt to land at the lunar south pole in 2025-2026 despite the Luna 25 crash.

Russia should not interrupt its lunar program and should remain in the lunar race in order to achieve technological sovereignty, he said.

On August 11, Borisov said that Roscosmos plans to launch the Luna 26 mission in 2027, Luna 27 in 2028, and Luna 28 by 2030 or later.