The MV Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, part of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has pinpointed when and where the Luna-25 spacecraft met the Moon. A notice from the IPM indicates that mathematical analysis conducted at the institute’s Ballistic Center contributed to determining the exact moment and location of the lunar encounter.
According to IPM researchers, Luna-25 touched down in the Moon’s southern hemisphere, within the 42-kilometer Pontecoulant G crater, at 14:58 Moscow time on August 19. The finding follows a detailed trajectory reconstruction built on kinetic and orbital data, illustrating how the lander’s path evolved as it approached the surface.
Earlier, Yuri Borisov, the head of Roscosmos, stated that an engine failure likely caused the incident. His remarks framed the mission’s end as an unexpected malfunction rather than a deliberate abort or a loss of control during landing attempts.
On the day prior, Roscosmos had already indicated that Luna-25 was not making contact after the spacecraft was steered into a pre-landing elliptical orbit. Communications were lost as organizers attempted to finalize a touchdown sequence, a setback that marked Russia’s first lunar mission in nearly half a century.
With Luna-25, Russia aimed to resume in-country exploration of a natural satellite of the Earth after a long interval since Luna-24, which launched in 1976. The mission represented a major milestone for Russia’s space program and provided an opportunity to gather data about the Moon’s surface and environment from a new vantage point.
In historical context, scientists from early space programs also explored propulsion concepts and engine technologies, some of which drew on a wide range of experimental fuels and designs. Modern assessments emphasize how engine reliability and in-situ measurements influence mission outcomes, guiding future lunar missions and technology development. The Luna-25 episode serves as a case study for mission planning, risk assessment, and the importance of robust telemetry and post-mission analysis. The ongoing review process will help international partners understand what happened and how to mitigate similar risks in future expeditions.