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Nasa craft around moon spots likely crash site of Russia’s lost lunar lander

India’s moon rover has confirmed the presence of sulphur and detected several other elements on the surface near the lunar south pole (Indian Space Research Organisation/AP)
India’s moon rover has confirmed the presence of sulphur and detected several other elements on the surface near the lunar south pole (Indian Space Research Organisation/AP)

A Nasa spacecraft around the moon has found the likely crash site of Russia’s lost lunar lander.

The Luna 25 lander hit the moon last month in a harsh end to Russia’s first moon mission in almost half a century.

Based on observations by its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Nasa said on Thursday that it appears the impact created a crater 33 feet across.

This fresh crater is about 250 miles short of the spacecraft’s intended landing site at the lunar south pole, and farther north.

India’s moon rover has confirmed the presence of sulphur and detected several other elements on the surface near the lunar south pole
India’s moon rover has confirmed the presence of sulphur and detected several other elements on the surface near the lunar south pole (Indian Space Research Organisation/AP)

Nasa’s spacecraft found no evidence of a crater in this spot in pictures taken during a flyover last year.

It is located on the steep inner rim of an ancient and considerably larger crater.

Since the newfound crater is close to where scientists believe Russia’s lunar lander crashed, “it is likely to be from that mission, rather than a natural impactor”, Nasa said in a statement.

Meanwhile, India’s rover is exploring the moon’s south polar region after successfully touching down a few days after Russia’s failure.

India became only the fourth country to pull off a lunar landing.