MOSCOW, Aug 3 The first Russian lunar station in almost 50 years «Luna-25» will go to the Earth's natural satellite early in the morning on August 11, follows from the available materials.
The main launch date was August 11, the Soyuz-2.1b rocket with the Fregat upper stage and an automatic station should take off from the launch pad of the Vostochny cosmodrome at 2:10.57 Moscow time. Reserve time — at 2.35 on August 12.
The previous domestic station «Luna-24» went to the Earth's satellite in 1976. Her return vehicle delivered about 170 grams of lunar soil to the planet.
Luna-25 does not have a return vehicle. It should be the first station in history to land on the South Pole of the Moon (near the parallel of 70 degrees south latitude). The main objectives of the mission will be the development of soft landing technologies, research of the internal structure and exploration of resources, including water.
After launch and separation from the rocket, the upper stage will send the automatic station on a flight trajectory to the Moon. The flight is expected to last approximately 4.5 days. Then the station will have to go into orbit around the moon, after which it will change it several times over the course of several days in order to land near the South Pole. It is planned that the scientific work of the station will last a year.
In 2027 and 2028, missions of the Luna-26 orbiter and the Luna-27 landing station are to take place. The second one will be equipped with a lunar soil drilling rig. 1875216209.html» data-title='Luna-27 station will land even closer to the South Pole than Luna-25'>