Roscosmos named the probable cause of the crash of Luna-25 – Kommersant

The Roscosmos State Corporation presented preliminary results of work to determine the causes of the crash of the automatic interplanetary station Luna-25. The accident probably occurred due to abnormal functioning of the on-board control system.

“It was established that the most likely cause of the accident was the abnormal functioning of the on-board control complex, associated with the failure to turn on the accelerometer unit in the BIUS-L device (angular velocity measurement unit) due to the possible entry into one data array of commands with different priorities for their execution by the device. At the same time, the distribution of commands in data arrays is random (probabilistic) in nature,” says the message “Roscosmos”.

Due to an error in the on-board control system when issuing a correction pulse, it was not possible to record the moment the required speed was reached and timely shutdown of the Luna-25 propulsion system. As a result, the station’s propulsion system operated for 127 seconds instead of the planned 84. “As a result, the station switched to an undesigned open orbit and collided with the lunar surface,” Roscosmos concluded.

Luna 25 was launched on August 11, the first launch of a Russian lunar station in almost 50 years. August 20 “Roscosmos” reportedthat contact with Luna-25 has been lost. General Director of Roscosmos Yuri Borisov urged not to make a tragedy out of the crash of Luna-25 and to continue working. According to him, one of the options for continuing the program could be the opportunity repetitions missions in 2025 or 2026.

Read more about the prospects for Russian space programs in material Kommersant FM.