The Russian lunar exploration program is on track, said RAS President Gennady Krasnikov in an interview with RIA Novosti. At a meeting at NPO Lavochkin with Roscosmos, the Luna-26, Luna-27A, and Luna-27B satellites were discussed.
Two landers are expected to touch down on the Moon's poles, while an orbiter will conduct remote surface studies. Krasnikov noted that scientific institutes – the Space Research Institute and the Institute of Astronomy – are working in close cooperation with Roscosmos enterprises.
Earlier, Oleg Kazanov, head of Rosnedra, reported that the geological history of the Moon is simpler than Earth's, so a diversity of deposits should not be expected. However, the satellite may contain reserves of titanium, iron, and vanadium. This makes the Moon a potential source of resources for future missions.