ESA suspends cooperation with Russia for all Moon missions citing Ukraine invasion

European ncy (ESA), following a council meeting on April 13, anunced that it is 'redirecting' its programmes due to ongoing geopolitical crisis. In an official release, ncy said that its Director-General Josef Aschbacher has initiated a comprehensive review of all European activities initiated in cooperation with Russia and Ukraine. " objective is to determine possible consequences of this new geopolitical context for ESA programmes and activities and to create a more resilient and robust infrastructure for Europe", release stated. 

Europe suspends cooperation with Russia in lunar missions

In aftermath of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine, ESA anunced that it is ending its cooperation with Moscow over Moon missions- Luna 25, 26 and 27. first lunar mission, a joint mission of Russia and Europe, was scheduled for launch in July 2022 using a Russian rocket. Since this is longer viable, ESA says that it has secured a second launch opportunity onboard a NASA-led Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) mission. 

This comes after ncy recently suspended Mars mission with Russia. Named ‘ExoMars’, it was scheduled for launch later this year carrying a rover named ‘Rosalind Franklin’ to red planet. “As with ExoMars, Russian aggression against Ukraine and resulting sanctions put in place represent a fundamental change of circumstances and make it impossible for ESA to implement planned lunar cooperation”, ESA said. It furr revealed that scientists are w finding a way forward for Europe’s Mars mission. 

lunar missions, on or hand, have also suffered major setbacks as y were supposed to kick start this year. According to previous schedule, Luna 26 was to be launched two years after first one, followed by Luna 27 a year after. Under se programmes, Europe had planned to send two landers and one orbiter to Moon. With Luna 25, ESA was eyeing crucial data of lunar surface which would have been used for landing in following missions.

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