Russia is about to launch its first robotic mission to the moon since 1976. The Luna 25 spacecraft, also known as the Luna-Glob-Lander is scheduled to liftoff at 7:10 p.m. EDT (2310 UTC).
The lander’s mission is to touchdown north of Boguslawsky crater near the south pole of the Moon. It is equipped withs eight scientific instruments, including a mechanical arm and bucket that can scoop up lunar regolith.
It will be placed into lunar orbit by a Soyuz-2-1b/Fregat rocket launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far east. The journey to the moon should take about five days. Luna 25 will then take about a week moving from a circular orbit to an elliptical one that will bring its low point to within a dozen miles of the surface. Its landing date has not been announced.
Artist’s concept of Luna 25 on the surface of the Moon. Image: N.P.O. Lavochkin.
Fully-fueled, the lander weighs 3,900 pounds (1,750 kg) and stands about 10.5 feet (3.17 meters) tall.
Beyond proving its landing capability, the Luna-25 mission has two main goals: Study the makeup of the lunar south pole, including the presence of frozen water, and learn more about the impacts of cosmic rays and electromagnetic radiation on the moon’s surface.