Critical Propellant Loss Plagues Astrobotic’s Lunar Lander Mission

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Astrobotic Technology, a Pittsburgh-based company, reported a significant setback for its lunar lander, Peregrine, which experienced critical propellant loss while attempting to correct itself after encountering a major issue in space. The spacecraft, which launched on Monday morning, faced difficulties placing itself in a sun-facing position due to a propulsion problem. This prevented the lander from charging its batteries.

Although the battery issue was resolved, Astrobotic was unable to fix the propulsion system anomaly. The company stated that the failure within the propulsion system resulted in a critical loss of propellant. Despite efforts to stabilize the situation, alternative mission profiles are being considered.

There is uncertainty regarding whether the Peregrine lander will be able to make a soft touchdown on the moon as initially planned for February 23. Astrobotic shared the first image of the lander in space, revealing crinkled outer layers of insulation, which aligned with telemetry data pointing to the propulsion system anomaly.

The Peregrine lander had a successful start to its journey, launching atop a Vulcan Centaur rocket developed by the United Launch Alliance. The rocket delivered the lander into a trans-lunar injection orbit, allowing it to sync up with the moon. However, it remains to be seen if Astrobotic will be able to attempt a moon landing.

Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic Technology developed the Peregrine lander under a $108 million contract with NASA. The vehicle aimed to reduce the cost of lunar landings by involving the private sector in robotic lander development. Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration at NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, expressed optimism in learning from both successes and setbacks.

The failure of the Peregrine mission would impact the relationship between Astrobotic and its ability to secure future missions. Furthermore, the loss of the lander would be detrimental to NASA and other countries and institutions with payloads on board. The Peregrine lander carries scientific instruments from NASA, as well as mementos and human remains.

Astrobotic’s Peregrine team has been working diligently for over 24 hours, assessing incoming data to provide updates. The company urges patience as they continue to analyze the situation.

In conclusion, Astrobotic Technology’s lunar lander, Peregrine, has encountered a critical propulsion issue, leading to a significant setback in its mission. Efforts are underway to stabilize the situation and assess alternative mission profiles. The possibility of a moon landing remains uncertain, with implications for Astrobotic, NASA, and other organizations with payloads on board.