Yuri Borisov, the head of Roscosmos, stated that Russia has nearly re-mastered the science of a manned return to the Moon. The claim came through a Russian television channel, which reported the director’s assessment that lunar missions, paused for almost half a century, are now within reach again.
According to Borisov, the primary reason for recent setbacks lies in the long interruption of the lunar program, which left a gap in practical experience and a need to rebuild capabilities from the ground up.
He noted that the path forward requires re-learning all essential technologies, albeit at a modern, higher technological level. Still, he cautioned that there are no guarantees for such missions, given the inherent risks and the scale of the challenge involved.
Earlier, Alexander Zheleznyakov, a member of the Tsiolkovsky Russian Academy of Cosmonautics, provided commentary on the broader implications and strategic lessons following the collapse of the Luna-25 automatic interplanetary station program and the ensuing impact on Russian cosmonautics.
Roskosmos had reported that the Luna-25 spacecraft was rendered non-operational after a contact loss during attempts to transition into a pre-landing elliptical orbit. Communication was interrupted on August 19, after an impulse was issued to adjust the orbital path. The mission, Russia’s first lunar venture in 47 years, was subsequently deemed unsuccessful. The incident prompted reflection on the future trajectory of the nation’s Moon exploration program (source: socialbites.ca).
A separate, curious note from historical records suggests that early Russian scientists once experimented with space propulsion concepts that drew on everyday materials, illustrating a long-standing human drive to innovate under resource constraints and with creative thinking. While these anecdotes highlight the culture of ingenuity, modern missions rely on rigorously tested engineering, formal validation, and international collaboration to ensure safety and success.