Astrobotic’s Lunar Lander, Peregrine, to be Destroyed in Earth’s Atmosphere
In a surprising decision, US space company Astrobotic has announced that its lunar lander, Peregrine, will intentionally be destroyed in the Earth’s atmosphere. This comes after a fuel leak disrupted the mission to the moon shortly after launch.
Astrobotic made the sacrifice in order to protect other satellites orbiting the moon from potential collisions. Although the company had initially considered maneuvering the lander to avoid falling back to Earth, they ultimately determined that it was too unstable to fly around other spacecraft.
Peregrine was launched on January 8 with the hope of becoming the first American spacecraft to return to the moon since the Apollo missions. However, investigations revealed that a faulty valve caused the fuel leak.
Despite the setback, engineering efforts extended Peregrine’s lifespan for more than six days, allowing it to gather additional data. Unfortunately, the spacecraft’s main engine was found to be too unstable, preventing long controlled burns.
Now, instead of helping the lander avoid the Earth’s atmosphere, Astrobotic will allow it to collide with the planet, causing it to disintegrate upon re-entry. Although no specific date has been provided for the spacecraft’s re-entry, it is expected to occur within the next few days.
Astrobotic CEO John Thornton anticipates that the mission will conclude on January 18. Peregrine is carrying a total of 20 payloads from seven countries and 16 companies. This includes scientific equipment for NASA.
Despite the end of this mission, NASA remains committed to lunar exploration. The agency has commissioned several private firms for its Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, indicating their ongoing plans for future lunar missions.
As Astrobotic’s Peregrine prepares for its final descent, the company’s decision to sacrifice the spacecraft highlights their dedication to the safety and protection of other satellites in orbit around the moon. While this mission may not achieve its initial objectives, it reinforces the importance of thorough testing and engineering in space exploration endeavors.
