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Russia’s Luna-25 automatic lunar station has successfully entered the orbit of the Moon, according to a statement by Roscosmos. The station fired its thrusters twice, with the first activation lasting 243 seconds and the second lasting 76 seconds. This marks the first time in Russia’s modern history that an automatic station has been delivered into the Moon’s orbit. All systems on the Luna-25 are reported to be operating normally and communication with the lunar probe is stable.

The Luna-25 lunar mission commenced on August 11, when a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket launched the automatic lunar station from the Vostochny spaceport in the Russian Far East. Since then, the probe has adjusted its flight path twice. The ultimate goal of the mission is to achieve a soft landing on the Moon’s surface, specifically targeting the south pole. The Luna-25 will conduct studies on the Moon’s internal structure, natural resources such as water, and the impact of cosmic rays and electromagnetic radiation on the lunar surface.

Equipped with several video cameras, the Luna-25 will record various aspects of the mission. This includes a time-lapse of the landing, a HDR panorama of the Moon, and the settling of dust for further study. Additionally, the station will perform a programmed video recording and capture photos of the Moon upon command from Earth.

As of now, ground control specialists are measuring the lunar probe’s navigation parameters. The Luna-25’s soft landing on the Moon’s surface is scheduled to take place on August 21.

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