A TOP Russian rocket scientist has died from "mushroom poisoning" weeks after Putin's failed moon landing, reports claim.

       Professor Vitaly Melnikov, 77, had headed up the Department of Rocket and Space Systems at RSC Energia, Moscow’s leading spacecraft manufacturer.

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       Top Russian space scientist professor Vitaly Melnikov died aged 77 Credit: EAST2WEST 5

       Professor Melnikov reportedly died of mushroom poisoning Credit: East2West 5

       The circumstances surrounding Professor Melnikov's death have not been confirmed Credit: East2West

       The source of his poisoning was inedible mushrooms, according to a “preliminary version”, reported Moskovsky Komsomolets.

       Doctors were unable to save him after battling the “severe poisoning” for more than two weeks.

       The circumstances surrounding his death have not been confirmed.

       Russia has witnessed a spate of mysterious or suspicious deaths in the past two years since Vladimir Putin started preparing for his war in Ukraine.

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       Melnikov had worked as chief researcher at TsNIIMASH, a division of Roscosmos, the Russian space agency.

       He was the author of 291 scientific articles, and was regarded among the most imminent space scientists.

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       He cooperated with foreign colleagues, including at NASA.

       Latterly, he was a professor at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia.

       Professor Melnikov's death comes just weeks after astronomer Mikhail Marov, 90, suffered a "sharp deterioration" in his health following the Putin's humiliating moon crash.

       The scientist had spoken of his "last hope" to see the spacecraft landing before being mysteriously rushed to the hospital.

       Moscow's first moon mission in 50 years ended up in a disaster after the Luna-25 probe crashed into the lunar surface after spinning out of control.

       The respected physicist and astronomer was devastated over the failed landing as he considered the mission the culmination of his life's work.

       He described it as his "last hope to see the revival of our lunar programme.”

       He said: “It’s sad that we didn’t manage to land the device.”

       The unmanned spacecraft was smashed into pieces after it crashed on the surface of the moon.

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       Professor Melnikov's death comes just weeks after Putin's failed moon landing mission 5

       Astronomer Mikhail Marov was also mysteriously rushed to hospital weeks ago