Space race returns after 50-year absence

Last year set a new record for the most successful launches in a given year, with four lunar orbiters and five flyby trips.

2023 will likely also see its fair share of records, with India set to make its first landing on the Moon's surface on August 23.

Operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation, it's only the third Moon mission in the nation's history, following launches in 2008 and 2019.

Chandrayaan-3, meaning 'moon craft' in Hindi, is expected to make a number of important scientific discoveries.

The mission's rover, Pragyan-3, will study the history of lunar impacts and the evolution of the Moon's atmosphere along with the composition of its surface and the presence of water ice in the lunar soil.

The rover is the successor to Pragyan-2, which was destroyed in 2019 when it encountered a software glitch and crashed into the Moon's surface.

Russian operator Roscosmos recently suffered the same fate when its lander Luna 25 was lost on August 19.

The mission cost 12.5 billion rubles (more than $205 million AUD) and was planned to be on the Moon's surface for at least one Earth year.

Roscosmos declared an "abnormal situation" while attempting to move the lander into orbit, the space agency losing contact with the craft just 47 minutes after its engines started.

Roscosmos Director general Yuri Borisov later claimed that a maneuvering engine could not be shut down, running for 127 seconds instead of 84.

The lander was Russia's first Moon mission in 47 years, following Luna 24 in 1976.

At least three more lunar missions are set for 2023, with Japan's first try at a Moon landing lifting off on August 26.

The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon by JAXA will demonstrate precise lunar landing by utilising technology from facial recognition systems.

While lunar research has been historically dominated by Russia and the United States, a number of countries have entered the ring in recent years, with four more to come by 2028.

South Korea, Italy and the United Arab Emirates joined the space race in 2022, while Canada, Brazil and the Netherlands have planned future launches.

In March 2023, Australia moved closer to its first Moon mission with the selection of two space industry partners for NASA's Moon to Mars initiative.

The AROSE consortium and the EPE and Lunar Outpost Oceania consortium will each receive $4 million to design early-stage prototypes of a rover to collect soil from the Moon.

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Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo said this announcement was another step forward in Australia's first mission to the Moon.

"From those selected to be part of the Trailblazer program, to other industry success stories and our impressive universities and research organisations, Australia has much to be proud of," he said.

"Programs like Trailblazer are important to growing our space sector, as well as our know-how in robotics and automation. It also has an important role to play in inspiring more young Australians to consider STEM careers."