Astrobotic, the Pittsburgh-based company, provided updates on the status of its private lunar lander, Peregrine, revealing that the spacecraft, leaking fuel since its January 8 launch, is now on a trajectory toward Earth. The unfortunate journey, marked by an onboard explosion after separating from the rocket, dashed hopes of a soft lunar touchdown due to propellant loss.
The latest assessment indicates that Peregrine, positioned over 242,000 miles (390,000 kilometers) from Earth, is likely to burn up in the planet’s atmosphere. Astrobotic’s team managed to salvage some success by powering up science experiments for NASA and other space agencies and gathering valuable spaceflight data.
Despite the attempt to redirect the lander to make a “hard landing” on the Moon, similar to previous failed attempts, it seems unlikely that this reduced goal will be achieved. Peregrine’s journey has captured the attention of space enthusiasts, tracking its trajectory for any chance of lunar contact.
The box-shaped robot, in space for over five days, carried diverse cargo, including a sports drink can, a physical Bitcoin, and human and animal ashes with DNA, highlighting the blend of private and scientific interests. Astrobotic had received over $100 million from NASA under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, aiming to foster a commercial lunar economy and cut NASA’s costs.
While this lunar landing did not succeed, NASA’s strategy of “more shots on goal” remains intact, with the next attempt by Intuitive Machines scheduled for February. Astrobotic will also get another opportunity in November, partnering with its Griffin lander to transport NASA’s VIPER rover to the lunar south pole. The setback underscores the challenges of private lunar landings, following previous failures by an Israeli nonprofit and a Japanese company.
