A RACE IN SPACE: RUSSIA LAUNCHES MOON LANDING CRAFT AFTER ISRO
Image Source: India Posts English
Russia has launched its moon landing craft for the first time in 50 years, with the objective of touchdown before an Indian spacecraft. The rocket which delivered the Lunar landing craft took off on Friday in Russia for its first moon mission in over 50 years, racing against the Indian spacecraft Chandrayaan-3, to touch down on Earth’s moon.
The Luna-25 spacecraft was launched towards the moon from Russia’s Vostochny Spaceport in the far eastern region. This marks Russia’s first lunar mission since 1976 when it was a member of the Soviet Union.
Around August 23rd, the Russian Lunar lander is anticipated to land on the moon, coinciding roughly with the arrival of an Indian spacecraft that was launched on July 14th. The Russian spacecraft “Journey” will encompass approximately 5.5 days to reach the Moon’s vicinity. Upon arrival, it will spend three to seven days orbiting at an altitude of about 100 kilometers (62 miles) before commencing its descent to the lunar surface.
Historically, only three governmental bodies- the Soviet Union, the United States, and China-have achieved the feat of successful moon landings. In pursuit of further lunar exploration, both India and Russia are competing to become the first to achieve a successful landing at the moon’s southern pole.
The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, has expressed its intention to demonstrate Russia’s capability to transport payloads to the moon and establish safe access to the lunar surface. The primary objective, as highlighted by Vitaly Egorov, a prominent Russian space analyst, goes beyond lunar research and is centered on the geopolitical competition between two great nations, especially the United States and China. Several other nations are also competing for recognition as space superpowers.
Sanctions imposed on Russia as a result of its engagement in Ukraine have hampered its access to Western technological resources, affecting its space activities. The initial design for the Luna-25 mission was the deployment of a tiny lunar rover. However, this concept was abandoned to lower the weight of the craft and improve its performance in the interest of successful lunar exploration; dependability is a strategic decision.
“Foreign electronics are lighter, while domestic ones are heavier,” observed Egorov. “While scientists investigate moon water, Roscosmos’ main goal is Moon landing-recovering Soviet expertise and adapting it to the modern era.”
According to Roscosmos’ video feed, Luna-25 launched perfectly from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome.
The spaceport, a favored project of Russian President Vladimir Putin, aims to strengthen Russia’s position as a space powerhouse by transferring launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. A prior attempt by India to land on the moon in 2019 resulted in a collision near the south pole.
Scientists are fascinated by the moon’s south pole’s shadowed craters, which may contain water that can be converted into fuel. Astronomer Ed Blommer emphasized the moon’s clean character and uniqueness as a sturdy canvas. The purpose of the Luna-25 mission is to collect crucial moon rock and dust samples, necessary for informed lunar construction to avoid premature shutdowns.
-Yusra Chand
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