Above: Luna 25 Lander

Mission Details

Mission Name: Luna 25

Mission Type: Lunar Lander

COSPAR: 2023-118A

NORAD: N/A

Operator: Roscosmos

Launching State: Russia

Location: Pontécoulant G crater (speculated crash landing site)

Latitude: 57.865 ° S

Longitude: 61.360 ° E

Launch Date: 10 August 2023, 23:10 UT

Landing Date: 19 August 2023, exact impact unknown

Image Source: Above, Above Right: NPO Lavochkin, Right: NASA

Description

With Luna 25, Russia sought to send a lander close to the lunar south pole. The spacecraft had a variety of scientific instruments such as: a robotic arm to investigate lunar regolith; mass, neutron and gamma-ray spectrometers; and imaging systems. Luna 25 launched on August 10th, 2023, and entered lunar orbit on the 16th. During the descent to the moon on the 19th, Roscosmos lost communications with the lander and was never able to resurrect them. It is believed to have impacted at the inner rim of the Pontécoulant G crater.

Read more:
https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2023-118A

Below: NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captures the suspected crash landing site.

Heritage Consideration