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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
RFI

Russia's first lunar mission in 47 years smashes into the moon in failure

This handout photograph taken by the Luna-25 rover (Moon-25), released by Russian Space Agency Roscosmos on 17 August 2023, shows the Zeeman lunar impact crater on the far side of the Moon. AFP - HANDOUT

Russia's first moon mission in 47 years failed when its Luna-25 space craft spun out of control and crashed into the moon after a problem preparing for pre-landing orbit, underscoring the post-Soviet decline of a once mighty space programme.

Russia's state space corporation, Roskosmos, said it had lost contact with the craft at 11:57 GMT on Saturday after a problem as the craft was shunted into pre-landing orbit. A soft landing had been planned for Monday.

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