"Mission life could now be measured in just hours" as Peregrine Spacecraft Experiences Critical Fuel Loss
American company Astrobotic has encountered a major setback in its lunar mission after facing technical difficulties shortly after yesterday's launch, stating that “mission life could now be measured in just hours".
The company launched its Peregrine lander on Monday, aiming to achieve the first American soft landing on the Moon in over 50 years. However, it is now grappling with a fuel leak that is set to jeopardise the entire mission. Astrobotic's statement highlights the severity of the situation, declaring the initially planned lunar touch-down on February 23 impossible.
Part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, the Peregrine lander encountered issues shortly after launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Engineers observed a major leak from the propulsion system, which was pushing the Peregrine out of alignment and preventing the spacecraft’s solar panels from facing towards the sun. This not only affects the engineers ability to control the lander, but also jeopardises its ability to soft-land on the Moon, as the solar panels need sunlight to charge the battery.
Reports indicate that the Peregrine's thrusters are working harder than expected to maintain alignment. Engineers estimate that the craft has less than 40 hours before the propellant supply runs out, leading to a rapid loss of power and an uncontrollable descent.
Astrobotic's challenges underscore the risks associated with private-public partnerships in space exploration. Despite NASA's involvement and a $108 million contract for the transportation of scientific instruments, the space agency is not directly in charge of the project. Private companies like Astrobotic, Intuitive Machines, and Firefly design and command the missions, with six lunar surface missions planned for this year.
This incident comes at a crucial time for NASA's ambitious Artemis program, which is aiming to return American astronauts to the Moon for the first time in over half a century. Despite the setback, NASA remains committed to lunar exploration, with private companies expected to play a pivotal role in advancing science, exploration, and commercial development on the Moon.
