Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Friday congratulated Russian space agency Roscosmos for the successful launch of its Moon mission Luna-25. This is Russia’s first lunar mission after nearly 50 years.

The Russian mission coincides with India’s third lunar spacecraft Chandrayaan-3 journey as landers of both countries plan to touch down on the south pole of the Moon during the same week.

Congratulations, Roscosmos on the successful launch of Luna-25 💐

Wonderful to have another meeting point in our space journeys

Wishes for
🇮🇳Chandrayaan-3 &
🇷🇺Luna-25
missions to achieve their goals.

— ISRO (@isro) August 11, 2023

“Congratulations, Roscosmos on the successful launch of Luna-25. Wonderful to have another meeting point in our space journies. Wishes for (India’s) Chandrayaan-3 & (Russia’s) Luna-25 missions to achieve their goals,” ISRO said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

India launched its third moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, on July 14 while Russia’s Luna-25 blasted off nearly a month later on August 11.

Both spacecraft are now headed for the South Pole of the moon. Chandrayaan-3 is expected to make its soft landing on the lunar surface on August 23.

However, despite launching late, Russia’s mission could achieve the feat sooner. Luna 25 is Russia’s first moon mission in nearly 50 years.

Luna 25 will reach the moon and enter orbit on August 16, and then attempt to land on the surface by August 21, according to a report in the New York Times.

However, while Chandrayaan-3 will conduct experiments on the moon for a period of two weeks, Russia’s Luna 25 will carry out its scientific studies for a full year. Luna 25 has a weight of 1.8 tonnes and carries 31 kg of scientific instrumentation. One of the major tasks of the mission is to examine the lunar soil and search for water.

Also read: Chandrayaan-3 sends back first photos of Moon as it moves closer