NASA and SpaceX Ready for Launch of Crew-7 Despite Russian Space Program Setback

NASA’s Crew-7 fliers began their busy day in space on Tuesday with a dress-rehearsal countdown at the Kennedy Space Center in preparation for their launch on Friday. The launch will be the seventh operational SpaceX ferry flight for NASA.

The launch comes as Russia’s ambitious attempt to return to the moon after nearly 50 years has failed. On Saturday, the Luna-25 moon lander crashed onto the surface of the moon, exposing the massive challenges faced by Moscow’s once-proud space program.

In spite of the failed mission, Russia launched a Progress cargo ship to the International Space Station on Tuesday. This launch comes two-and-a-half days before a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule is scheduled to take off from Florida with four station-bound crew members on board.

The destruction of the Luna-25 probe reflects the problems that have plagued the Russian space industry since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite the setback, NASA and SpaceX remain committed to their mission and are looking forward to the launch of Crew-7 on Friday.