Context:
Failure of Russia’s Luna-25 has brought in the discussion about International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) which is a collaborative project of Russia and China.
About ILRS
- A planned comprehensive scientific experiment base on Moon with the capability of long-term autonomous operation.
- Agencies involved – China National Space Administration (CNSA) and Russian Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)
- MoU signed in 2021
- Will serve as a comprehensive scientific experiment base built on the lunar surface or in lunar orbit that can carry out multi-disciplinary and multi-objective scientific research activities
- Luna-25 was a part of the ILRS mission
About CLEP – Chinese Lunar Exploration Program
- Also known as the Chang’e Project
- 1st spacecraft of the program – Chang’e 1 lunar orbiter (2007)
- Chang’e 3 achieved soft landing on moon
- Chang’e 5 returned to Earth with lunar soil (2020)
Read more about Luna-25 and Luna program
Read more about Moon Missions: Past, Present and Future
Source: The Hindu
Previous year question
Which of the following pair(s) is/are correctly matched?
| Spacecraft | Purpose | |
| 1. | Cassini-Huygens | Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth |
| 2. | Messenger | Mapping and investigating the Mercury |
| 3. | Voyager 1 & 2 | Exploring the outer solar system |
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2014 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
