Russia will be taking a shot at the moon in 2015.
The Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos, announced this week that it will be launching an unmanned spacecraft to the moon in 2015 in order to search for water and soil samples. The spacecraft will launch from a new launch pad in the Amur Region of Russia called the Vostochny cosmodrome.
Top News reports that the Lunar-Glob, Russia’s lunar mission, is part of a program that was delayed last year due to funding issues. The program has been resurrected, and Russia expects to land on the moon in 2015.
The NY Times reports that a rocket will deliver a 1,100 pound space exploration vehicle to the moon with 55 pounds of scientific equipment. Vladimir Popovkin, the head of Roscosmos, said that Russia’s last unmanned moon mission was in 1976.
Russia’s moon shot in 2015 will be the first of four missions. In addition to searching for water and soil on the moon, Russia is also reportedly planning on building a moon base. Russia is planning to build a fully robotic base on the moon after the 2015 mission.
A lunar base on the Moon may seem a little futuristic but Russia’s plan is far more reasonable than the one proposed by the non-profit group Mars One . Mars One recently put out a wanted ad for future Mars colonists .
