The Russian space industry enterprise "Lavochkin" has announced that Russian experts are developing and testing the necessary software for the Luna-25 vehicle, designated for studying the lunar surface. Regarding this, the director of the organization, Vladimir Kalmykov, stated: "In the upcoming months, specialists will conduct tests on the algorithms and software intended for the landing systems of the Russian Luna-25 lunar vehicle, as well as testing the software for its navigation systems. Testing will also be conducted on the functionality of these systems in emergency situations."
He added, "The vehicle and its equipment are currently in working order, and the software tailored for its operation is being developed and improved... I believe the best period for launching this vehicle will be between July and August 2023, as during that time the moon will be relatively close to Earth, which will reduce the amount of fuel required for the vehicle’s journey to the moon, and good visibility conditions and suitable conditions for receiving and sending radio signals during the vehicle's landing on the moon will be available."
The primary mission of the Luna-25 vehicle focuses on achieving a smooth landing on the moon's surface and conducting studies of its southern pole, with the area north of the Boguslavsky crater chosen as the main landing zone. The area located southwest of the Manzini crater may serve as an alternate landing site. The subsequent mission, Luna-26, set to begin in 2024, will aim to conduct a survey of almost the entire lunar surface, followed by Luna-27 and Luna-28 missions in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
