MOSCOW. Dec 26 (Interfax) - The Russian Academy of Sciences has proposed that the state space corporation Roscosmos create two Luna 27 landing craft to ensure the mission is completed, Roscosmos CEO Yury Borisov said.
"The Academy of Sciences came up with a proposal to create two satellites, Luna 27A and Luna 27B, to ensure reliability and guarantee the completion of the mission. We're now considering the proposal," Borisov said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 (VGTRK) television channel.
"Nevertheless, 2028 is certainly on the schedule, depending on the choice between one or two Luna 27 satellites, and we'll decide on finances," he said.
The work on the next lunar mission, Luna 26, is in full swing at Roscosmos enterprises, Borisov said. "The launch is planned for 2027. It will enter a circumlunar orbit and determine the landing site of the future Luna 27 robotic spacecraft," he said.
Luna 25, the first lunar landing mission in Russia's post-Soviet history, lifted off from Vostochny Cosmodrome on August 11. The spacecraft's soft landing on the Moon's South Pole was supposed to take place on August 21, but the lander was lost on August 19 after crashing into the lunar surface.
Borisov said earlier that the launch of the Luna 26 mission was slated for 2027, Luna 27 for 2028, and the launch of Luna 28 by 2030 or later.
He said on October 27 that Russia would study the Moon together with China after the launch of the Luna 26 and Luna 27 spacecraft.