Photo:Vostochny Space Center/Roskosmos
RD-107А/108А rocket engines manufactured by Samara-based UEC-Kuznetsov of United Engine Corporation ensured successful start of Soyuz-2.1b rocket with Fregat booster and Luna-25 automatic station for regolith and exosphere exploration of the Earth’s satellite. The power plants worked without any failures.
The launch took place at 02:10 Moscow time on 11 August, 2023, from the Vostochny Cosmodrome launcher in the Amur Region. UEC-Kuznetsov’s engines installed on Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle stages I and II worked satisfactorily.
UEC-Kuznetsov service center personnel controlled power unit operation at the cosmodrome and rocket launch preparation, installed and tested all engine support systems.
The launch of Soyuz-2.1b rocket with Luna-25 automatic station has been Russia’s first lunar lander mission since 1976. The main goals of the program will include soft-landing technique testing, probing and resource survey, in particular water exploration in the lunar polar region.
