The chief of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, has vowed to continue the country's lunar program, despite the recent crash of the Luna-25 mission.
The Luna-25 probe was meant to be the first in a series of missions to the Moon, but it crashed during pre-landing maneuvers on Sunday. Borisov said that the crash was due to an issue with the spacecraft's correction engine, and that a special commission has been formed to investigate the incident.
Despite the setback, Borisov said that Russia is committed to the lunar race. "In no case should the lunar program be interrupted, that would be the worst decision," he said. "The Moon is a strategic direction for us."
Russia is not the only country that is vying for dominance on the Moon. The United States, China, and other countries are also planning to send missions to the lunar surface in the coming years. The race to the Moon is seen as a key part of the future of space exploration, and it is likely to be a major source of competition and cooperation between countries in the years to come.
Borisov said that Russia is still in the process of developing its lunar program, but that the country is committed to sending a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030. He also said that Russia is open to cooperating with other countries on lunar exploration.
The crash of the Luna-25 probe is a setback for Russia's lunar program, but it is not a fatal one. Borisov's vow to continue the program shows that Russia is still a major player in the race to the Moon.