Over 45 years after losing the space race to the United States, Russia has finally announced its own manned Moon mission which is set to be launched in 2029. The mission will be preceded by multiple unmanned missions which will include orbiters and landers and will study the Moon's polar regions. The ESA has announced that it will provide technical expertise for the early missions and has also indicated its willingness to join Russia in its efforts to colonize the Moon.
Vladimir Solntsev, head of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscomsos), made the announcement at a space and technology conference in Moscow on October 27, 2015 saying, “A manned flight to the Moon and lunar landing is planned for 2029.” He also mentioned that the construction of the mission spacecraft has already commenced in Moscow and that the first launch is scheduled in 2021. After the first flight, the spacecraft will be docked with the International Space Station and will also carry out an unmanned mission to the Moon in 2025.
