Peregrine photo showing disruption of insulation in the foreground
astrobotic
Things look grim for Astrobotic’s Peregrine spacecraft. The Vulcan rocket launched toward the moon on January 8, but just seven hours after liftoff, an “anomaly” began to occur that could prevent a safe landing on the moon’s surface.
The first hint of trouble was that the spacecraft was unable to orient itself so that its solar panels faced the sun. The technical team on the ground was able to command the aircraft to steer in the right direction so the battery could be recharged. These batteries power Peregrine’s communications and scientific equipment, and so far appear to be working properly.
But the problem doesn’t end there. The thrusters meant to carry Peregrine to the moon and land safely are powered by rocket fuel, and appear to be leaking fuel.in a short series statementAstrobotic said the problem was “causing significant loss of propellant.”[this] If the propulsion anomaly proves true, it would threaten the spacecraft’s ability to make a soft landing on the moon. The first images sent back from the spacecraft show rippling insulation in the foreground, suggesting that whatever caused the fuel leak may have also destroyed the spacecraft’s insulation. .
If Peregrine cannot land on the moon, it is unclear which of its science goals it will be able to accomplish, even if its batteries are fully charged. “The team is working to stabilize this [propellant] “While there was a loss, given the circumstances, we prioritized making the most of the science and data we could collect,” the statement said. “We are currently evaluating what alternative mission profiles are feasible at this time.” Astrobotic did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Assuming Peregrine is unable to land, this would be the third consecutive failed attempt by a private company to land on the moon. The Beresheet lander crashed on the moon in 2019, and the Hakuto-R lander also crashed on the moon in 2023. No private company has yet successfully made a soft landing on the moon.
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