VLADIVOSTOK, September 4. /TASS/. Work on Russia’s Luna-26 moon mission continues according to the schedule, which envisages the spacecraft’s launch in 2027, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov told TASS in an interview on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

He said that top management of Russian state-run space corporation Roscosmos earlier hinted at the possibility of launch in 2026.

"The work currently proceeds in accordance with the schedule, taking into account the basic scenario of the new spacecraft’s launch in 2027. However, the top management of Roscosmos indeed said earlier that efforts will be made to reschedule the launch for 2026 if possible," he said.

The Luna-26 moon mission envisages sending an orbiter to carry out remote research of the Earth’s natural satellite. The orbiter will map the distribution of minerals on the Moon’s surface and the allocation of frozen water in its soil and fulfill other scientific tasks.

The Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) is underway on the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok on September 3-6, 2024. The main theme of the EEF in 2024 is "Far East 2030. Combining strengths to create new potential." EEF 2024 business activities are broken down into seven thematic blocks: "New contours of international cooperation," "Technologies to ensure independence," "Financial system of values," "the Russian Far East," "People, education and patriotism," "Transport and logistics: new routes," and "Master plans: from architecture to economy." The Roscongress Foundation has served as the Forum’s organizer since 2016. TASS is the general information partner of the EEF.