 A top scientist who long dreamt of Russia once again touching the lunar surface has been taken to hospital after the Luna-25 crash. The robotic spacecraft, Russia's first space launch to the moon's surface since the 1970s, entered lunar orbit last Wednesday only to vanish from the radars. Set to soft land today, the Luna-25 experienced an 'emergency situation' and abruptly 'ceased its existence', the space agency Roscosmos said. Mikhail Marov, 90, whom local media described as a key consultant in the expedition, suffered a 'sharp deterioration' when he learned the mission failed. The astronomer told news channel RBC and the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper that the setback was so devastating it took a toll on his health. 'I'm under observation. How can I not worry, this is largely a matter of life. It's all very hard,' he told reporters from Russia's top hospital. The Lunar-25, Russia's first moon mission in 47 years, spun out of control and crashed (Picture: Roscosmos/East2west news) The moon lander encountered a problem preparing for pre-landing orbit, the state space agency said (Picture: AP) Marov was taken to what is regarded as the best hospital in Russia (Picture: RAS Russia/e2w) Marov added: 'It's sad that we didn't manage to land the device. 'For me, this was perhaps the last hope to see the revival of our lunar programme.' Marov was quoted as urging officials not to 'keep silent' about the project's failures. 'I hope that we can manage, that the leadership of Roskosmos will have a desire, even a conscious need to repeat this experiment,' he said. The professor of Planetary Physics at Moscow State University and a major player in Russia's trips to Mars and Venus has been admitted to the Moscow Central Clinical Hospital. The clinic, tucked away in a wooded suburban area of Kuntsevo, is heavily guarded and is often known as){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
A top scientist who long dreamt of Russia once again touching the lunar surface has been taken to hospital after the Luna-25 crash.
The robotic spacecraft, Russia’s first space launch to the moon’s surface since the 1970s, entered lunar orbit last Wednesday only to vanish from the radars.
Set to soft land today, the Luna-25 experienced an ’emergency situation’ and abruptly ‘ceased its existence’, the space agency Roscosmos said.
Mikhail Marov, 90, whom local media described as a key consultant in the expedition, suffered a ‘sharp deterioration’ when he learned the mission failed.