WASHINGTON: NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has identified a recently formed small crater on the Moon’s surface, believed to be the result of a crash landing by Russia’s Luna-25 probe approximately two weeks ago.
This discovery was made by the LRO through a comparative analysis of images captured before and after the impact, with “before” images obtained from the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
On August 19, 2023, the Luna-25 probe experienced a crash landing, dashing Russia’s aspirations of rejuvenating its dormant lunar program with the historic achievement of a soft landing on the lunar south pole.
India, on the other hand, attained this distinction with the successful landing of its Chandrayaan-3 mission on August 23, 2023, and is presently exploring the polar region with its Pragyan rover.
NASA Aims Return to Moon to Establish Human Presence
The LRO, a lunar orbiter that has been operational since 2009, used a “before” image captured in June 2022 and compared it to another image taken on August 24, 2023.
In light of the proximity of the new crater to the estimated impact point of Luna-25, NASA has deduced that it is likely a direct result of the Russian mission, rather than a natural lunar impactor.
The newly formed crater measures approximately 10 meters (32 feet) in diameter and lies approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) shy of Luna-25’s intended landing location.
NASA, as part of its Artemis program, also has ambitions to return to the Moon with the objective of establishing a sustainable human presence.
