Russia plans to launch its first spacecraft to land on the lunar surface in 47 years, competing with India to reach the Moon's South Pole, which is a potential source of water that could support life there. The spacecraft will be launched from the Vostochny spaceport, located 5,550 kilometers east of Moscow, four weeks after India launched its Chandrayaan-3 rocket to the Moon, scheduled to arrive at the pole on August 23.
Landing on the Moon is challenging due to the uneven surface, but the South Pole is a known target as some scientists believe it may contain vast amounts of ice, which could be used to extract fuel and oxygen, in addition to drinking water. The Russian space agency Roscosmos responded to queries from Reuters, stating that the Luna-25 spacecraft will take five days to reach the Moon and then spend five to seven days orbiting before landing at one of three potential sites near the pole, a timeline that could match or slightly outpace India's plan to reach the lunar surface.
