Russia’s Space Chief Announces Start of Competition for Lunar Resources Following Failed Mission
On Monday, the head of Russia’s space agency Roskosmos emphasized the importance of Russia’s continued involvement in the race to explore and exploit the moon’s resources, despite the setback of its first lunar mission in 47 years.
Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft spun out of control and crashed into the moon on Saturday after a problem with pre-descent orbital preparations, highlighting the decline of the once-mighty space program.
Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov looked dejected in an interview with Russia’s state television station 24, saying it was in Russia’s vital national interest to remain committed to lunar exploration.
“This is not just about country prestige and achieving some geopolitical goals. It is about ensuring defense capability and achieving technological sovereignty,” he said in his first public comments since the aborted mission.
“Today it also has practical value, because of course the competition to develop the moon’s natural resources has begun. And in the future, the moon will become a platform for deep space exploration, an ideal platform.”
Russia has announced that it will launch more lunar flights and then explore the possibility of joint Russian and Chinese crews and even a lunar base. NASA has spoken of a “lunar gold rush” and explored the possibilities of lunar mining.
In 2020, the United States announced the Artemis Treaties, named after NASA’s Artemis lunar program, which aim to build on existing international space law by establishing “safe zones” on the moon. Russia and China have not joined the agreements.
