MOSCOW. Nov 7 (Interfax) - Roscosmos supports the construction of two landing craft of the Luna 27 mission, however, funds have yet to be allocated, head of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Space Research Institute and the first stage of Russia's lunar program, Academy member Lev Zelyony told Interfax.
"Roscosmos feels positive about the idea and many representatives of the space corporation have voiced support for it. However, its implementation requires the approval of financing. Roscosmos cannot reassign funds from one project to another. No funds have been allocated so far, which worries us," Zelyony said.
The production of two landing craft will not have a large effect on the expedition funding, he said.
"Building and launching the second craft is estimated to increase the costs by 50% rather than 100%. However, reliability will double or be even higher as a result," he said.
"The construction of Luna 27 will begin shortly, and component parts will be purchased. It will be hard to realize the idea unless enough components are bought for both craft. Component parts purchased two years later will be different, and everything will have to be tested anew," Zelyony said.
On December 26, 2023, Roscosmos head Yury Borisov said the Russian Academy of Sciences had offered Roscosmos to build two Luna 27 landing craft for guaranteed completion of the mission.
Borisov said earlier the Luna 26 mission was planned for 2027, Luna 27 for 2028, and Luna 28 for 2030 or for later.
Zelyony said in August that the first Luna 27 craft would be sent to the Moon's North Pole, while the other would land on the South Pole. He also said that the South Pole, which might contain substantial reserves of water ice, might be explored and occupied by other countries by 2028.
In case of a successful landing, Russia may become the first explorer of the Moon's North Pole, Zelyony said.