The European Space Agency (ESA) has taken the decision to stop cooperation with Russia on its missions Luna-25, Luna-26, and Luna-27, ESA said in a statement on April 13, made available to TASS. “ESA’s Director General has initiated a comprehensive review of all activities currently undertaken in cooperation with Russia and Ukraine,” the statement says. In particular, “ESA will discontinue cooperative activities with Russia on Luna-25, -26 and -27.”
“As with ExoMars,” Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and “the resulting sanctions put in place represent a fundamental change of circumstances and make it impossible for ESA to implement the planned lunar cooperation,” the document says, adding that other flight opportunities are being considered.
