Lunar Resource Pursuit Initiated, Affirms Russian Space Head Following Unsuccessful Moon Mission

 

A picture taken from the camera of the lunar landing spacecraft Luna-25 during its flight to the moon shows the mission emblem and the bucket of the lunar manipulator complex, August 15, 2023. Roscosmos/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT./File Photo

MOSCOW, August 21: The global race to tap into and harness the moon's abundant resources has officially initiated, prompting Russia to reaffirm its participation despite the recent failure of its first lunar endeavor in 47 years, according to the head of Russia's renowned space agency, Roskosmos.

The Luna-25 spacecraft of Russia encountered a disastrous outcome, veering out of control and colliding with the moon on Saturday, a consequence of a pre-landing orbit mishap. This incident underscored the diminishing state of Russia's space program, once a formidable force during the Soviet era.

Addressing the issue in an interview with Russia-24 state TV station, Yury Borisov, the somber leader of Roskosmos, expressed that Russia must retain its active role in lunar exploration despite the setback. He indicated that the stakes extend beyond national pride and geopolitical aspirations, emphasizing the importance of maintaining defensive capabilities and securing technological autonomy. These remarks marked Borisov's first public statement after the unfortunate lunar mission termination.

Borisov elucidated, "Today, this holds not only symbolic value for our nation and the pursuit of certain geopolitical objectives. This is also about ensuring our defensive capacities and asserting our technological independence. Furthermore, the ongoing significance lies in the practical domain, as the competition to exploit the moon's natural resources has commenced. Additionally, we foresee the moon transforming into a launchpad for extensive space exploration—an optimal platform."

Russia has outlined its intention to launch subsequent lunar missions and explore prospects of collaborative ventures, including a joint Russian-Chinese crewed mission and the establishment of a lunar base. NASA has coined the term "lunar gold rush" to describe the fervor surrounding the prospect of lunar mining.

In 2020, the United States introduced the Artemis Accords, a framework named after NASA's Artemis lunar program, with the aim of expanding upon existing international space regulations. The accords seek to create designated "safety zones" on the moon. Notably, Russia and China have refrained from becoming signatories to the Artemis Accords.