Names | Luna-Resurs |
---|---|
Mission type | Technology, reconnaissance |
Operator | Roscosmos |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 2021 (proposed) |
Rocket | Soyuz[1] |
Moon lander |
Luna 27 (Luna-Resurs lander)[2] is a planned lunar lander mission by the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) with collaboration by the European Space Agency (ESA) to send a lander to the South Pole–Aitken basin, an unexplored area of the Moon.[3][4][5] The mission is a continuation of the Luna-Glob programme.[3]
Contents
Mission
The purpose is to prospect for minerals, volatiles, and lunar water ice in permanently shadowed areas of the Moon and investigate the potential use of these natural resources.[3] On the long term, they consider building a habitable base on the Moon's far side that would bring scientific and commercial benefits. [3]
Europe's participation in the mission is due to receive final approval at a meeting of ministers in late 2016. If approved, Europe will contribute with the development of a new type of automated landing system, and will also be providing the 'PROSPECT' package, consisting of a drilling, sampling, sample handling, processing and analysis package.[6] The percussion drill is designed to go down to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) and collect cemented ice samples for an onboard miniaturised laboratory called ProSPA.[3][6]
The lander mission was announced in November 2014 by Russia,[7] who is planning the launch for 2020.[2][6] Due to budget constraints, an unmanned lunar mission would be performed by 2025, while a manned Moon landing was postponed for 2029.[8]
See also
References
- ^ Mitrofanov, Igor. "Luna-Glob” and “Luna-Resurs”: science goals, payload and status (PDF). EGU General Assembly 2014.
- ^ a b Missions to the Moon Luna-27. The Planetary Society.
- ^ a b c d e Ghosh, Pallab (16 October 2015). "Europe and Russia mission to assess Moon settlement". BBC News. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
- ^ "ESA's plans for Lunar Exploration" (PDF). European Space Agency (ESA). 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
- ^ "Russia-ESA Lunar Exploration Cooperation: Luna Mission Speed Dating". European Space Agency (ESA). 17 February 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-18.
- ^ a b c "PROSPECTing the Moon" (PDF). European Space Agency (ESA). 18 May 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
- ^ "Luna-Resurs lander (Luna-27)". Russian Space Web. October 10, 2014. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
- ^ "Russia Postpones Plans on Extensive Moon Exploration Until 2025". Retrieved 2015-12-30.
External links
Media related to Luna programme at Wikimedia Commons