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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Russia’s Soviet-era success

Russia's recent explorations of our solar system starkly contrast with the nation's accomplishments during the Soviet era.

More than three decades ago the Soviet Union launched twin spacecraft, Vega 1 and Vega 2. These spacecrafts successfully approached Venus, depositing landers on its surface and releasing balloons into its atmosphere. 

In 1986, the same spacecraft sailed near Halley's comet, capturing images and studying its nucleus. However, Russia's subsequent endeavors, such as the Mars missions launched in 1988 and 1996, experienced failures.

Luna-25's intended one-year mission to study lunar surface composition was set to pave the way for a series of robotic missions, collectively known as Luna 26, 27, and 28. 

These missions aimed to lay the groundwork for a future lunar base in collaboration with China. Unfortunately, due to financial and technological challenges, compounded by sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, these plans have faced substantial delays.

Recent years have seen Russia primarily confined to activities in low-Earth orbit, including facilitating astronaut travel to and from the International Space Station, a cooperative effort with NASA.

Collaborative ventures between Russia and Europe, including joint space projects, have suffered post-Ukraine invasion. 

Russia will need to independently replace crucial components, such as the drill intended for the Luna-27 lander. It has struggled to develop reliable space hardware, particularly electronics capable of functioning effectively in the harsh space environment. And this has dramatically slowed down Russia’s progress in space.