At 02:10 Moscow time, the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket carrying the Fregat upper stage and the Luna-25 automatic lunar lander lifted off from the Vostochny cosmodrome. The liftoff was broadcast live by Roscosmos via its YouTube channel. This mission marks the return of Russia to lunar exploration after a 47-year pause.
In the first stage, the Fregat upper stage separated about nine minutes after launch, igniting its main engine twice to place the payload on the correct trajectory for the Moon. Roscosmos reported that the rocket performed normally during the ascent.
Mission control confirmed that the upper stage had separated from the third stage and was now delivering the Luna-25 into a translunar flight path aimed at reaching the Moon. Early calculations indicated that debris from the first-stage separation could fall within Russia, specifically the Khabarovsk Territory, and officials notified residents accordingly.
Officials later stated that fragments descended about 28 kilometers from the village of Shakhtinsky, between the Nizhny Desh and Tastakh rivers. Three fragments were recovered immediately, with searches continuing for a fourth. The governor noted that eighteen residents of Shakhtinsky had been evacuated about an hour before launch and were allowed to return home by 10:30 local time. A team of environmental scientists was scheduled to visit the crash site to collect samples for laboratory analysis.
The mission timeline notes that the rocket will reach the Moon in five days, marking the second stage of the flight. A planned orbital correction will take place the day before lunar insertion. According to DEA News, the third phase will see Luna-25 operate in a circular 100-kilometer orbit around the Moon for roughly three days to identify the most suitable landing site, after which it would attempt a landing at the Moon’s south pole. Estimates place the lunar landing around August 21, assuming mission progress remains uninterrupted.
Launch delays and the road to liftoff
Reports from mk.ru indicate that Luna-25’s launch experienced four postponements. The mission was originally slated for late 2019, with subsequent delays moving the target to 2021, then 2022, and finally July 2023.
The delays were attributed to propulsion system testing and enhancements intended to ensure a smooth landing of Luna-25 on the lunar surface, according to mk.ru.
On August 8, the Soyuz-2.1b launcher with Luna-25 was transported to the 1C launch complex at Vostochny. Roscosmos officials cited in TASS described the preparations continuing after the rocket was positioned vertically at the site.
The mission aim for Luna-25
Maxim Litvak, who heads the Luna-25 Scientific Instrumentation Complex Planning Group, underscored the significance of deploying an autonomous lunar lander. He recalled that for much of the 19th and 20th centuries, successful Moon landings were achieved by only a few nations and that translating long-standing engineering work into a reliable landing remains a formidable challenge. Litvak stressed that Luna-25 targets a region of the Moon that has not seen a landing before, a place believed to contain substantial water ice and volatile compounds.
During transmissions from DEA News, it was noted that Luna-25 would operate for about a year on the lunar surface. The mission’s primary goals include resource prospecting, especially water, and the advancement of soft-landing technologies. The data gathered is expected to illuminate the Moon’s history, including its formation and evolution, as well as the current state of its surface. A focus on the polar regions promises insights into the early Solar System and the Sun’s influence over time.
What happens next?
Yuri Borisov, Roscosmos head, outlined plans for continued lunar exploration, including three additional missions in the coming years. The schedule foresees Luna-26 in 2027, Luna-27 in 2028, and Luna-28 in 2030 or after. Borisov also mentioned ongoing collaboration with Chinese partners and expressed hopes for joint operations leading toward a lunar base and eventual crewed missions. He framed the program as a long-term endeavor with broad international participation potential.
News coverage notes that in 2019 China achieved a historic landing on the far side of the Moon with Chang’e-4, which transmitted surface imagery and conducted plant and insect experiments brought from Earth. Such comparative milestones underscore the evolving landscape of lunar exploration and strategic cooperation among nations.
Comparative context and observer perspectives
Industry commentary and political analyses have debated whether a lunar “race” is still relevant, with three major players often cited: Russia, the United States, and China. Luna-25 is seen by some observers as a milestone for Russia, potentially shaping future collaborations. At the same time, observers note that American lunar ambitions under Artemis include broader participation from Canada and European partners, while some analysts question the pace and scale of Russia’s plans in comparison with the international programs unfolding around the Moon.
Experts cited by policy and space news outlets argue that Luna-25’s ambition lies in restoring a capability that aligns with earlier lunar-landing achievements, even as newer generations of missions pursue more complex objectives. They observe that China and the United States have advanced lunar programs, and the international landscape may continue to evolve with additional partnerships and joint ventures in the near future.