Russia is racing to beat the US, India, and China to the south pole of the moon in its first lunar mission since the 70s

• Russia launched its first mission to the moon since 1976 on Thursday. 
• If successful, it could be the first to do a soft landing on the south pole of the moon.
• But its a crowded field — with the US, India, and China all vying for similar goals.

Russia is on its way to the moon for the first time in almost 50 years, and aims to be the first to soft land on the coveted south pole of our satellite, beating the US, China, and others to the punch.