Russia's unmanned Luna-25 spacecraft has crashed into the Moon after spinning out of control, officials say.

It was Russia's first Moon mission in almost 50 years.

The craft was due to be the first ever to land on the Moon's south pole, but failed after encountering problems as it moved into its pre-landing orbit.

It was set to explore a part of the Moon which scientists think could hold frozen water and precious elements.

Roscosmos, Russia's state space corporation, said on Sunday morning that it had lost contact with the Luna-25 shortly after 14:57pm (11:57 GMT) on Saturday.

Preliminary findings showed that the 800kg lander had "ceased to exist as a result of a collision with the surface of the Moon", it said in a statement.

 

It said a special commission would look into why the mission failed.

The loss of Luna-25 is a blow to Roscosmos. Russia's civilian space programme has been in decline for several years, as state funding is increasingly directed towards the military.

Russia was racing to the Moon's south pole against India, whose Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is scheduled to land there in the coming days and send a rover to explore the rocks and craters, gathering data and images to send back to Earth.

 

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Well they can't blame Ukrainians for this one....

It's not going too well for the murdering, wannabe Czar at the moment.  Good. ????

It was a planned hard landing lmao ???? to bad mr Putin image seems to be doing about as well as his (special military operation)  

Edited August 20, 20232 yr by Tug

Just now, Tug said:

It was a planned hard landing lmao ???? to bad mr Putin wasent at the controls 

He's on his way now 

 

Doh !

50 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Well they can't blame Ukrainians for this one....

Everyone knows that the moon is a fellow neo-Nazi.

Space is hard.

 

 

Seriously, the Russian space program is dying. Too much corruption at the highest level. There just isn't money to train and employ replacements for the aging workforce.

 

I am very familiar with the Luna-25 design bureau, and they are going through hard times.

7 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

Space is hard.

 

 

Seriously, the Russian space program is dying. Too much corruption at the highest level. There just isn't money to train and employ replacements for the aging workforce.

 

I am very familiar with the Luna-25 design bureau, and they are going through hard times.

Is the boycott affecting it?

41 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Is the boycott affecting it?

Not the problem.

 

The problem is that money is allocated in the Federal bureau for projects such as Luna-25, but the money disappears before it gets to the design bureau. But the government orders the design bureau to continue with the project anyway.

 

2 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Well they can't blame Ukrainians for this one....

But they probably will blame the Ukrainians for attack a civilian? space vehicle with a military drone.  ????

Another big win for Putin! 

7 minutes ago, candide said:

Another big win for Putin! 

Pity he wasn't in it

Mysterious deaths of russian space engineers in 3... 2... 1...

 

8 minutes ago, eisfeld said:

Mysterious deaths of russian space engineers in 3... 2... 1...

A top astronomer who worked on Russia's failed space expedition has been rushed to hospital following the Luna-25 spacecraft's crash into the surface of the Moon.

 

Russian astronomer who advised Putin's failed Luna-25 mission to the Moon is rushed to hospital over 'sharp deterioration in his health' - after unmanned spacecraft CRASHED | Daily Mail Online

46 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

A top astronomer who worked on Russia's failed space expedition has been rushed to hospital following the Luna-25 spacecraft's crash into the surface of the Moon.

 

Russian astronomer who advised Putin's failed Luna-25 mission to the Moon is rushed to hospital over 'sharp deterioration in his health' - after unmanned spacecraft CRASHED | Daily Mail Online

This scientist had nothing to do with the spacecraft failure.

 

In case you are keeping score, the last fully successful interplanetary Russian mission was 40 years ago, back in Soviet times.

Why can't the Russians design a spacecraft that can safely land on the moon.

It's hardly rocket science, is it?

 

 

13 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

It's not going too well for the murdering, wannabe Czar at the moment.  Good. ????

Oh (Ras) Putin IS the Czar! For life!

16 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Space is hard.

 

 

Seriously, the Russian space program is dying. Too much corruption at the highest level. There just isn't money to train and employ replacements for the aging workforce.

 

I am very familiar with the Luna-25 design bureau, and they are going through hard times.

how come you are authorised to reveal sensitive information about them!

I suppose things like this will happen when Russia has to pull mainboards and CPUs needed for their moonshot from smuggled consumer products like coffeepots, razors and digital cameras.

A Ukrainian drone will be blamed..............

18 minutes ago, Iron Tongue said:

I suppose things like this will happen when Russia has to pull mainboards and CPUs needed for their moonshot from smuggled consumer products like coffeepots, razors and digital cameras.

 

... yep, apparently the scavenged chips outta washing masheens gave it kind of the wrong spin, lol ...

 

Talking about 'spin' - I´m rather surprised the borschties haven't (yet) tried to give it a positive one by telling us how they were more than a day early for, uh, impact, 5555 ... 

They should have opted for the better internet package. Most likely dropped their connection when trying to land.

19 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Well they can't blame Ukrainians for this one....

They will though....

20 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

Well they can't blame Ukrainians for this one....

Of course they can:

 

Ukraine "rebelled" against Russia, so Russia had to divert funds to "put Ukraine in its place", which short funded the space program, which lead to the accident and et voilá! 

 

????

Edited August 21, 20232 yr by pacovl46

What a shame it didn't return, flying at 10's of thousands of miles per hour straight into Putin lair.

The Man in the Moon refused Russian citizenship.  

8 hours ago, eisfeld said:

Mysterious deaths of russian space engineers in 3... 2... 1...

555, I gotta watch that movie again...

 

Unless Putin wants to build a base on the moon for refugees from his war, why on earth would you  still continue with a moon program during a war ?