Russia’s first mission to the Moon in almost 50 years, Luna-25, crashed on the lunar surface, Roscosmos Space Corp. confirmed Aug 20.

The mission started on Aug. 10 with launch of the 1,800-kg (4,000-lb.) spacecraft aboard a Russian Soyuz-2 Fregat rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. After a five-day journey, Luna-25 settled into a 100-km-high (60-mi.) polar orbit around the Moon. A soft landing near the Boguslavsky crater on the lunar south pole was planned for Aug. 21.

But the connection with Luna-25 was lost on Aug 19 after it switched on thrusters needed to maneuver into a pre-landing elliptical orbit.

According to a source from the Russian space industry, the thrusters fired longer than planned. This apparently pushed the spacecraft below its intended orbital flight path, which was to reach as close as 18 km from the lunar surface, leading to the crash.

The accident will be investigated by a special interdepartmental commission, Roscosmos says.

Luna-25 was expected to study lunar soil in order to confirm the existence of water ice deposits in the polar areas and to probe the Moon’s exosphere during a planned year-long mission.

Russia’s return to the Moon was to be followed by several more announced missions: Luna-26, -27 and -28 between 2027 and 2030.

They are unlikely to be canceled after the crash of Luna-25, but they will fall out of Moscow’s priority list in the current harsh economic environment in Russia, according to Russian space expert Vitaly Yegorov. He also predicts the crash will negatively affect Russia’s cooperation with China on lunar exploration initiatives,  with Moscow remaining in a subordinate position.

Another attempt to make a first landing on the Moon’s south pole is expected on Aug. 23 by India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission. It is due to touch down near the Manzinus crater, which is about 120 km away from the location Russia had targeted.