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A Russian robotic spacecraft that was headed to the lunar surface has crashed into the moon. The loss of the Luna-25 moon lander was announced by Russia’s space agency on Sunday. The statement claimed contact with the vehicle was lost 47 minutes after the engine fired.

Attempts to re-establish communications failed, and the spacecraft deviated from its planned orbit and “ceased its existence as a result of a collision with the lunar surface,” Roscosmos said.

According to the statement, an interagency commission would be formed to investigate the reasons for the failure.

It is the latest setback in spaceflight for Russia which once led the world into space. The then-Soviet Union, during the Cold War, became the first nation, to put a satellite, a man and then a woman in orbit.

Lunar-25 Moon Lander was a setback

The Luna-25 moon lander was a key component of the country's space ambitions.

This mission was intended to be Russia's first successful moon landing since the 1970s. It carried with it the hopes of reviving the nation's space achievements on the global stage. 

The mission, which embarked on its journey on August 11th, aimed to pioneer exploration of the moon's south polar region, a site of immense interest to both governmental space programs and private entities around the world due to the possibility of water ice reserves that could prove crucial for future space endeavors.

The central objective of the Luna-25 mission was to test advanced landing technology on the lunar surface. 

 A series of recent international failures in lunar landing attempts, including those by India, an Israeli nonprofit, and a Japanese company, all failed during the final moments of descent.

The loss of the lander during a relatively less risky phase of its mission spotlights the ongoing struggles faced by Russia's space program. For missions aimed at lunar descent, the most crucial moments involve the launch from Earth and the landing itself.

The failed Luna-25 mission also has implications beyond the realm of space exploration. Russian President Vladimir V. Putin has utilized the nation's achievements in space as tools of propaganda and a means of solidifying his hold on power. 

Consequently, this mission's failure deals yet another blow to his efforts.

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