MOSCOW. Aug 14 (Interfax) - The first three images have been received from the Luna 25 automatic interplanetary station, which is currently heading towards the Moon, the photos have been published on the website of the Russian Academy of Sciences Space Research Institute.
"The STS-L onboard television cameras have taken the first images from outer space, which will go down in the history of national cosmonautics," the statement said.
The images show structural elements of the Luna 25 spacecraft with the Earth and the Moon in the background. The third image shows the mission's logo and the scoop of the onboard robotic arm.
The Space Research Institute completed an express analysis of telemetry and measurement data of research instruments on board the station, which was performed in two sessions of the first activations at a distance of about 310,000 kilometers from the Earth on August 13, the statement added.
"All instruments showed full operability and readiness for lunar exploration. Their analog and digital nodes and units have operated excellently," it said.
"During the sessions, the ADRON-LR nuclear physical instrument measured the radiation background on the spacecraft, which is substantially affected by galactic cosmic rays. These rays fill the entire interplanetary space, and our instruments and future expeditions of cosmonauts will have to work on the Moon under their impact. Therefore, it was extremely necessary to identify the radiation levels on board the spacecraft in advance, while still on the flight," it said.
The first lunar mission in modern Russian history was launched on August 11. Luna 25's soft landing on the Moon's South Pole is set for August 21, Roscosmos CEO Yury Borisov said.