Cape Canaveral, Florida – The Peregrine lunar lander, a joint project between Nasa and Astrobotic, is facing obstacles and is unlikely to successfully reach the surface of the moon. Designed by Astrobotic, a US-based lunar logistics company, the robotic spacecraft is meant to transport payloads to the moon or its orbit.
On January 8, the Peregrine Mission One was launched with the aim of delivering scientific equipment to the Gruithuisen Domes region of the moon. The instruments on board are intended to collect data that could aid in reducing risks and laying the foundation for Nasa’s Artemis program, which seeks to establish a sustained human presence on the moon. The lander also carries instruments and equipment from the Mexican and German space agencies, as well as contributions from universities, companies, and individuals in the UK and other countries. Among these items are a physical coin loaded with one bitcoin and a Japanese lunar dream capsule containing messages from children worldwide.
The Peregrine lander successfully separated from the Vulcan Centaur rocket that carried it into space, but encountered problems soon after. The spacecraft was unable to reorient its solar panels to face the sun and charge its batteries, a critical issue given the loss of power. Astrobotic initially attributed the problem to a failure within the vehicle’s propulsion system, which resulted in a critical loss of propellant. Another concern arose when images showed the lander’s outer layers of insulation crinkled. The ground-based engineering team managed to temporarily fix the solar panels, but further complications arose.
An announcement on Monday evening revealed that a fuel leak was causing the thrusters of Peregrine’s attitude control system to function well beyond their expected service life cycles. These thrusters are crucial for maintaining the lander’s alignment and preventing an uncontrollable tumble. Based on current fuel consumption, it is estimated that the thrusters will only continue operating for a maximum of 40 more hours.
The future of the spacecraft is uncertain. Even if it were to eventually reach the moon, the Peregrine lander would need to reorient its engine for a controlled descent. However, achieving this now seems increasingly unlikely. If the mission is abandoned, the lander will join the growing number of debris floating in space. It will also serve as a somber memorial, as it contains capsules with DNA samples or cremated remains of individuals including former US presidents and the science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke.
Despite the setbacks, there are still valuable lessons to be learned from the Peregrine lander. Its scientific instruments and fully charged battery can still provide valuable insights into system resilience and readiness for future lunar missions. While a lunar landing may not have been achieved, the mission’s collaborations and technological advancements pave the way for more frequent and sustainable lunar expeditions. This setback should not be seen as a complete failure, but rather an opportunity to refine approaches and increase the likelihood of success in the next attempt.
The Peregrine Mission One may join previous failed attempts by private companies to land on the moon, such as the Beresheet lander and the Hakuto-R lander. However, there are numerous future collaborative missions planned, including those involving private spacecraft. Nasa remains committed to these high-risk, high-reward endeavors, emphasizing the innovation and speed they bring to the space exploration field.
In conclusion, the Peregrine lunar lander faces significant challenges that hinder its ability to reach the moon’s surface. Despite these setbacks, there is still potential for valuable scientific insights to be gained from the mission. The failure of this particular endeavor should be seen as an opportunity for further refinement and improvement in future lunar missions.