Lander problems delay Russia’s Moon mission

Russia has disclosed it postponed its first mission to the Moon in decades as a result of “problems” with its fourlegged lander during tests.

“A safe landing system is of crucial importance and we are working on Luna-25’s soft landing system,” Alexander Shirshakov, chief engineer of Russia’s state NPO Lavochkin design bureau, said yesterday.

The mission to examine ice deposits on the Moon’s south pole has been moved from Oct 1 to May 2022.