Moon-27

Main article: Lunar program of Russia

Chronicle

2025: Postponement of the launch of the Russian interplanetary station Luna-27A to 2029

The launch of the Russian automatic interplanetary station (AMS) Luna-27A has been postponed from 2028 to 2029. This was announced in August 2025 by the scientific director of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, academician Lev Zeleny. The scientist added that the launch of the Luna-27B AMS should take place a year after Luna-27A goes into space. One flies to the North Pole, the other to the South Pole. In what sequence, it has not yet been decided.^[1]

2024: Lack of funds for Luna-27b

Roscosmos supported the idea of ​ ​ creating two automatic stations "Luna-27," but the final decision has not yet been made due to lack of finance. This was announced in mid-September 2024 by the scientific director of the Space Research Institute (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the scientific director of the first stage of the lunar program of Russia, academician Lev Zeleny.

According to him, Luna-27 will have a significantly expanded payload set compared to Luna-25 (lost during the mission): this, in particular, is a set of instruments for studying the plasma-dust exosphere of a natural Earth satellite. The equipment will include devices for measuring the properties of lunar dust and the electric fields it generates, as well as equipment for studying the interaction of the Moon with the solar wind.

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Фото: Wikipedia

Zeleny said that if it turns out to create only one Luna-27, it will be more natural to send it to the North Pole of the Earth's natural satellite. If two devices are created - Luna-27a and Luna-27b, then their launch can take place with an interval of six to nine months. It is noted that the equipment within the framework of the Luna-27 project has practically been created. The launch of the station is planned to be carried out in 2028-2029. The mission provides for the development of technology for high-precision and safe landing on a natural Earth satellite, as well as research on the circumpolar region of the moon.

It is worth remembering that in Soviet times, for reliability, all devices were made in pairs: lunar, Martian, and Venusian. This made it easier to work out, and increased reliability. Such duplication not only increases reliability, but also qualitatively expands the scientific capabilities of the project. I hope that we will be able to do all this with Luna-27, "says Zeleny.[2]

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