During the past weekend, a Russian spacecraft encountered a malfunction, resulting in its collision with the moon.

The unsuccessful landing attempt has ignited inquiries into the trajectory of the nation’s lunar exploration aspirations and the complex geopolitical factors that underscore contemporary space exploration endeavors.

The spacecraft, named Luna 25, experienced a loss of communication with Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, on Saturday, August 19.

By the following Sunday, the vehicle was declared non-functional, CNN reported.

Initial accounts from Yury Borisov, the head of Roscosmos, suggest that an issue emerged with the spacecraft’s engines, causing a misfiring incident as it endeavored to adjust its orbit in the days leading up to its intended landing.

This setback marks a significant setback for the space agency’s aspirations.

Russia had been striving to demonstrate that its civil space program, which has reportedly encountered challenges spanning decades, remains capable of accomplishing the remarkable feats it achieved during the space race of the 20th century.

Written by staff