Russian Space Program Faces Crisis as Officials May Be Fired Following Lunar Mission Failure
The future of the Russian Space Program hangs in the balance as top officials could potentially face dismissal after a major setback in their lunar mission. Following the failure of the Luna-25 spacecraft, which crashed during pre-landing maneuvers, the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, is under scrutiny and pressure to hold those responsible accountable.
One of the officials at risk is Alexander Ivanov, the first deputy director general of Roscosmos, who oversees the technical aspects of the state enterprise and heads the state commission responsible for the launch of Luna-25. However, it is important to note that Ivanov only returned to his position a year ago, making it difficult to solely blame him for the mission failure.
Another individual likely to face resignation is Mikhail Hailov, the Deputy General Director of Space Complexes and Systems at Roscosmos. While Ivanov may receive reprimand, Hailov seems to be in a more precarious position.
Aside from the top officials, the personnel directly involved in the lander’s development, including scientists and programmers, might also bear responsibility for the mission failure. In particular, the specialists from NPO Lavochkin, the main contractor of the Luna-25 project, and employees from the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who prepared the scientific program for the mission, could face consequences.
This recent failure has shed light on issues such as corruption and mismanagement within the Russian space industry. According to Bruce McClintock, a senior researcher at RAND Corp, the Russians had been eagerly anticipating this lunar mission as their chance to restore their credibility in deep space exploration. However, it appears that the problems plaguing the space industry and leading to this crash were ongoing long before the current Roscosmos team took charge.
The preliminary cause of the accident was an engine malfunction, with the engine running longer than necessary during the descent vehicle’s pre-landing maneuvers. This extended operation caused an error that proved fatal, resulting in the loss of speed and the crash into the moon.
Yuri Borisov, the head of Roscosmos, acknowledged the failure as an invaluable experience and attributed it to the technology being reintroduced after 50 years of research program stagnation. Borisov emphasized the need for scientists and engineers to gain a fresh understanding of the technology and the absence of guarantees for success. A special commission has been appointed to investigate the incident, and its findings will play a crucial role in planning future missions.
Luna-25 was a significant mission for Russia, marking the first lander launched to an Earth satellite since 1976. Originally scheduled for 2014, the mission faced multiple postponements before its eventual launch in August 2023.
Overall, the Russian Space Program is now at a crossroads, facing a crisis of credibility and accountability. The outcome of the investigation and the actions taken against key officials and personnel will determine the future trajectory of Russia’s space exploration efforts. The hope is that valuable lessons will be learned from this failure, enabling the program to bounce back stronger and regain its standing in the realm of deep space exploration.
