Private Moon Lander on Collision Course with Earth After Fuel Leak
Astrobotic, the company behind the private Peregrine moon lander, confirmed that the spacecraft is still expected to crash into Earth. Originally intended to softly land on the moon next month, a fuel leak has led to a change of plans. Despite nearing the end of the leak, the lander continues to head towards a collision with our planet.
Working closely with NASA and other U.S. government agencies, Astrobotic is currently estimating when and where the lander will collide with Earth. Unfortunately, officials have not indicated any means of preventing this fate. It is anticipated that the crash into Earth’s atmosphere will occur no sooner than Thursday.
The fuel leak has rendered long controlled burns impossible, as stated by Astrobotic CEO John Thorton. However, Thorton remains confident that the company’s next mission to the moon will achieve the desired soft landing.
The significance of the Peregrine lander cannot be understated. It is the first U.S. private moon lander to transport NASA experiments and commercial payloads to the lunar surface. Furthermore, it serves as NASA’s inaugural mission for the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.
Among the payloads onboard the Peregrine are five NASA experiments and 15 other items for various customers, including human remains. Sadly, the fuel leak emerged shortly after the spacecraft’s launch on January 8, leading to the postponement of the moon landing initially scheduled for February 23.
To address concerns and provide updates on the mission, Astrobotic officials and NASA will be conducting a joint press conference on Thursday.
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