NASA probe showed the crash site of the Russian station "Luna-25"

Miscellaneous / by admin / September 01, 2023

It was discovered by a new funnel on the surface of the satellite.

Luna-25, the first Russian lunar station in 47 years, crashed on the surface of the satellite on August 19 during a maneuver to prepare the pre-landing orbit. The NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), flying over the alleged crash site, discovered a new crater that didn't exist before. This is probably the site of the fall of the station.

Staff: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University

Because this new crater is close to the supposed impact point of Luna 25, the LRO team concludes that it most likely formed as a result of this mission, and not as a result of natural impact.

NASA representatives

The new crater is about 10 meters wide and is located at about 58 degrees south latitude, on the steep inner rim of the lunar crater Pontecoulant G, the statement said. The crash site is located about 400 kilometers from the planned landing site of Luna-25.

Photo: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University

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Luna 25 was launched on 11 August. The station could be the first domestic spacecraft on the surface of the satellite since 1976 and the first probe to the south pole of the moon, a region that can be rich in water ice. However, after its crash, the Indian apparatus Chandrayaan-3 became the first. He softly landed on the moon August 23 and already sends pictures.