In a bid to achieve a historic milestone, Pittsburgh-based space robotics company Astrobotic Technologies recently launched its spacecraft, Peregrine, on a mission to become the first U.S.-based robotic lander to touch down on the moon in over half a century. The launch took place from Cape Canaveral, Florida, atop a new rocket Vulcan Rocket, carrying payloads from NASA, other nations, and commercial customers.
The Vulcan rocket is a new methane-fueled rocket from United Launch Alliance (ULA), one of Americas.’ most experienced space launch operators.
The Vulcan Centaur rocket will replace ULA’s well-established workhorses, the Atlas V and the Delta IV, in launching payloads to space.
On January 8, Astrobotic Technologies initiated the mission with high hopes, aiming to propel its Peregrine lander to the lunar surface. The spacecraft, named after the world’s fastest bird, was equipped with payloads from NASA, marking a significant collaboration between the private sector and government space agencies.
Regrettably, the mission encountered a setback mere hours into its flight.
The Peregrine spacecraft faced a serious propulsion problem, hampering its ability to orient its solar panels toward the sun for essential power. This setback posed a critical threat to the mission’s success, as power is vital for the spacecraft’s functionality and longevity. Despite mission controllers’ efforts to rectify Peregrine’s orientation, the propulsion issue resulted in a significant loss of fuel, jeopardizing the mission’s trajectory and objectives.
In a late-night update on January 8, 2024, Astrobotic Technologies revealed that Peregrine was grappling with an ongoing leak, intensifying the challenges faced by the mission. The leak prompted Peregrine’s compass system to work tirelessly to maintain the spacecraft’s stability, preventing it from tumbling out of control. The relentless strain on the spacecraft’s systems raised concerns about the depletion of fuel reserves, with estimates suggesting Peregrine would run out of fuel in less than two days.
The Peregrine lander, loaded with payloads from various entities, including NASA, encountered operational challenges that have brought attention to the complexities of modern lunar exploration.
Astrobotic had aimed to make a historic 250,000-mile trek to the Moon as the first contractor through NASA’s CLPS initiative. This private sector recruitment program is part of NASA’s broader lunar ambitions, with the goal of establishing a regular cadence of moon missions. The initiative is crucial in preparing for Artemis astronauts’ return to the Moon and aims to leverage private sector capabilities to achieve cost savings for the space agency.
The history of lunar exploration reveals the difficulties involved in reaching and landing on the Moon. With less than half of all missions succeeding, the lunar surface has become a graveyard of robotic landers and rovers. The absence of a significant atmosphere on the Moon presents challenges in slowing down a lander during descent, and the lack of GPS systems complicates navigation for landing.
The Peregrine mission, despite facing challenges, highlights the financial dynamics of outsourcing lunar missions. Costing NASA $108 million, the mission showcases the economic efficiency that can be achieved through private sector collaboration.
Looking ahead, Astrobotic is expected to deliver NASA’s VIPER mission, an ice-mining rover, later this year. The impact of the Peregrine mission setback on these future plans remains uncertain, raising questions about the adaptability and resilience required in the rapidly evolving field of space exploration.
The setback for Astrobotic comes at a time when several nations and private companies are turning their attention to the Moon, particularly its south pole. The presence of potentially valuable resources, such as buried ice, adds a new dimension to space exploration, with the prospect of supplying drinking water, oxygen, and rocket fuel for future missions.
Astrobotic’s lunar mission setback underscores the challenges inherent in contemporary lunar exploration. As space agencies and private entities continue to push the boundaries of human exploration, lessons learned from setbacks contribute to the refinement of future missions. The collaborative efforts between NASA and private contractors exemplify a new era in spaceflight, where shared expertise aims to overcome challenges and pave the way for humanity’s sustained presence beyond Earth.
The space agency which has already announced about delay in the Human mission to return to moon to late 2024 through Artemis II, The Peregrine failure is disheartening. The agency had plan to land humans on moon surface in 2025 through Artemis III is now postponed to 2026.
