Russia Seeks to Return to the Moon After Almost 50-Year Break

Luna-25 competes with Indian mission to lunar south pole
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has deepened issues for Roscosmos

A Soyuz-2.1b rocket with the moon lander Luna-25 is transported to a launch pad at the Vostochny Cosmodrome on Aug. 8.Source: Roscosmos State Space Corporation/AP Photo

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By Bruce Einhorn and Loren Grush

August 10, 2023 at 4:00 PM UTC

Updated on

August 11, 2023 at 12:40 AM UTC

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Russia launched its first lunar lander in nearly 50 years on Friday in a journey to the moon’s south pole, joining a race with NASA and other space agencies to the region.

The Soyuz rocket carrying the Luna-25 craft lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s far east at 2:11 a.m. Moscow time and reached orbit about 10 minutes later. Luna-25 then separated from the upper-stage booster about one and a half hours into its flight.