Russia’s recent failed attempt to return to the moon highlights the significant challenges faced by its space program. The crash of the Luna-25 probe underscores the problems that have plagued the Russian space industry since the collapse of the Soviet Union. These challenges include the loss of key technologies, Western sanctions, brain drain, and corruption.
Yuri Borisov, the head of Roscosmos, the state-controlled space corporation, admitted that the failure was due to a lack of expertise resulting from a long break in lunar research. He lamented the loss of experience gained by their predecessors in the 1960s and 1970s.
While the USSR lost the moon landing race to the United States, it had several successful robotic missions to the moon, including lunar rovers and the collection of soil samples. The Soviet space program had notable achievements like launching the first satellite and sending the first human into space.
The lunar south pole, with its potentially frozen water in the shadowed craters, is of particular interest to scientists. Unfortunately, Russia’s space program has been hindered by Western sanctions, which have restricted imports of key components and scientific exchanges. The partnership between Roscosmos and the European Space Agency for the Luna-25 project was halted due to the sanctions.
The use of substandard components has also contributed to Russia’s space failures. In 2011, a mission to Mars’ moon Phobos failed due to cheap microchips. There have been allegations of embezzlement and corruption within the Russian space industry, and several managers from the company responsible for Luna-25 have been arrested.
Despite the failure of Luna-25, Russian state television has tried to downplay the loss by highlighting the data and pictures obtained before the crash. Borisov remains optimistic and emphasizes the importance of lunar research for defense capabilities and technological sovereignty. Future moon missions are planned for 2027, and Roscosmos will intensify its work on them.
There is speculation that Borisov’s position as head of Roscosmos might be at risk due to the failure. However, President Vladimir Putin tends to avoid quickly dismissing officials in response to incidents. The previous head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, who was blamed for earlier space mishaps, has not commented on the Luna-25 mission’s failure.
The crash of Luna-25 has raised doubts about Russia’s technological prowess and damaged its prestige. Some believe it undermines Russia’s claims of being a global power and raises questions about its capabilities in both Ukraine and space. The perception of strength and success is important for countries and individuals alike, and Russia may face challenges in retaining support.
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