The unmanned craft was due to make a soft landing on the Moon's south pole.

Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft has crashed into the Moon after spinning into an uncontrolled orbit, officials say.

The unmanned craft was due to make a soft landing on the Moon’s south pole, but failed after encountering issues as it moved into its pre-landing orbit.

It was Russia’s first Moon mission in almost 50 years.

The spacecraft was scheduled to land on Monday to explore a part of the Moon which scientists think could hold frozen water and precious elements.

Roskosmos, Russia’s state space corporation, said it lost contact with the Luna-25 shortly after running into difficulties.

    • Aux@lemmy.world
      4·
      1 year ago

      The quality of Russian science is irrelevant when 99% of funding goes into building new palaces and buying yachts.

      • TheBlue22@lemmy.world
        4·
        1 year ago

        Don’t forget about brain drain.

        The majority of Russians with any braincells (or money) have already left the country.

        • Aux@lemmy.world
          21·
          1 year ago

          Yeah, brain drain is real. Every Russian I know from IT sphere has left. Many left after 2014 , everyone else left in 2022. Every person with a brain doesn’t want to associate with the regime in any way and doesn’t want to suffer.

    • uis@lemmy.world
      1·
      1 year ago

      It’s roskosmos being roskosmos. I’m surprised it didn’t explode mid-air.

      • lud@lemm.ee
        1·
        1 year ago

        Roskosmos is usually pretty competent.

        I mean, they helped build the ISS (and a lot more) and have sent a lot people up there for YEARS without any fatalities.

        ^^^and ^^^no ^^^I ^^^dont’t ^^^like ^^^Russia.