Private Company Astrobotic Technology Faces Fuel Leak in First U.S. Moon Landing Attempt in 50 Years
In a major setback for private space exploration, Astrobotic Technology experienced a critical fuel leak just hours after successfully launching its spacecraft. This jeopardizes the first U.S. moon landing attempt in over 50 years. The lander, named Peregrine, managed to orient itself to the sun to charge its battery while a team assessed the failure in the propulsion system.
Soon after the leak was confirmed, hopes for a planned moon landing on February 23 were diminished. The leak continued and the company estimated that the lander would begin losing solar power within 40 hours. The trouble was reported approximately seven hours after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and the lander was propelled into a long, roundabout path to the moon by United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket.
A photo released by Astrobotic showed a disturbance in a section of thermal insulation, aligning with the known problem so far. Astrobotic, aiming to be the first private company to successfully land on the moon, followed in the footsteps of only four countries. NASA provided funding to Astrobotic and another Houston company to build and fly their own lunar landers as part of the Artemis program, which seeks to return astronauts to the moon’s surface in the next few years.
The last U.S. moon-landing mission occurred in December 1972 during the Apollo 17 mission. This recent attempt also marked the initial test flight of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin providing the main engines. While China and India have successfully landed on the moon in recent years, the United States and other countries have faced failures in their attempts.
The implications of this mission’s outcome are significant for the future of private space exploration and the Artemis program. Next month, SpaceX is set to conduct its own moon landing mission with a lander from Intuitive Machines. Astrobotic’s Peregrine lander carried various payloads, including a chip of rock from Mount Everest, toy cars from Mexico, and the ashes and DNA of deceased space enthusiasts.
However, the Navajo Nation raised objections to the launch, citing concerns over the presence of human remains on board. Astrobotic has promised to find a solution for future missions regarding this issue. It is important to note that breaking even financially was not the main goal for this first flight, although cargo fares for the Peregrine lander ranged from a few hundred dollars to $1.2 million per kilogram.
As Astrobotic faces a critical fuel leak and the prospects of a successful moon landing waver, the future of private space exploration hangs in the balance. The outcome of this mission will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of future lunar missions and the Artemis program.
