Russia’s Luna-25 beams back first images from race to lunar south pole

Plus: Driverless cars from Cruise create traffic jam in San Francisco 🚀 After a 50-year hiatus, Russia has launched its first lunar landing mission since 1976 — and the historic Luna-25 probe is beaming back its first breathtaking images from space. We'll keep you updated with progress as Luna-25 races India’s [Chandrayaan-3]( to become the first probe to land on the Moon's mysterious — possibly icy — south pole. To see the first photographs from the Russian mission, jump to today’s [Must Read](. Good morning. I’m Tim, Newsletter Editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s get into it! VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( Batman's freeze ray could become reality after new discovery The Ice Ray gun, once confined to the pages of Batman's universe, is now a reality thanks to a groundbreaking discovery involving plasma and its mind-bending cooling effect. SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest in science and engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free. [SUBSCRIBE]( Must Read [🌍 Russia’s Luna-25 beams back first images from race to lunar south pole]( Luna-25 captured a pair of selfies with the Earth and Moon in the background — offering a glimpse back at our “pale blue dot” before the probe leaves it behind forever. The images also reveal Luna-25's bold Roscosmos and mission insignia as it journeys over 310,000 km away. All systems are reportedly normal as Luna-25 draws closer to its target after launching last week. If everything goes to plan, Russia will once again make history by being the first nation to safely land a probe on the lunar south pole around August 22nd. The shadowy polar craters are believed to harbor underground ice. If this is confirmed, it would be invaluable for future lunar exploration and establishing a permanent base on the Moon. 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