Russia’s Luna 25 Sends Back First Images From Space; Chandrayaan-3 Nears Moon Touchdown

Russian space agency Roscosmos released the first images sent back by Luna-25, the country’s first lunar lander in nearly 47 years.

“These pictures show the structural elements of the Luna-25 apparatus against the background of the Earth, from which we have forever flown away, and against the background of the Moon, to which we will very soon fly,” wrote Roscosmos in a statement.

Despite being launched nearly a month after Chandrayaan-3, the Russian lander may arrive at the Moon's south pole ahead of the Indian mission.

Luna-25 is expected to enter lunar orbit on August 16 and make a soft landing on August 21 or 22.

Chandrayaan-3 conducted its final lunar-bound manoeuvre on Wednesday, and is scheduled to land on August 23.