Lunar Lander Will Burn Up in Earth's Atmosphere After Failed Moonshot
A U.S. company's lunar lander will soon burn up in Earth's atmosphere after a failed moonshot.
Lunar lander to burn up in Earth's atmosphere
Astrobotic Technology, a U.S. company, has announced that its lunar lander, named Peregrine, will burn up in Earth's atmosphere after a failed moonshot. The lander is currently headed back towards Earth and the mission is expected to end on Thursday. Astrobotic is working with NASA to track the lander's path and has assured that there will be no safety risks during its fiery reentry.
The moonshot, which aimed to make the first U.S. lunar landing in over 50 years, was abandoned due to a fuel leak. Astrobotic suspects that a stuck valve caused a tank to rupture. With the guidance of NASA and other government officials, Astrobotic has decided to responsibly end the mission in order to prevent any potential harm to satellites around Earth or future spacecraft flying to the moon.
Preserving the future of space exploration
In an online update, Astrobotic stated that ending the mission was a difficult decision. However, it is seen as a responsible choice that ensures the preservation of the future of space exploration. The company acknowledges the importance of not endangering other satellites and avoiding any hazards for upcoming lunar missions.
NASA had paid over $100 million for the Peregrine lander's mission, which included flying various experiments and a rover from Carnegie Mellon University. It is part of NASA's larger efforts to commercialize lunar deliveries by private businesses while focusing on returning astronauts to the moon. Another U.S. company, Intuitive Machines, is scheduled to launch its own lunar lander next month.
Mixed reactions to the failed mission
Many individuals have expressed their disappointment and concerns regarding the failed lunar lander mission. One commenter, William J. Candee, criticized the optimism that led to packing numerous valuable assets on an untested ship. He suggests that such missions should be attempted only after successfully working out all the bugs.
Another commenter, Clucker155, questioned how it is possible that humans supposedly landed on the moon six times 50 years ago, but with the advancement of technology, it is now challenging to achieve the same feat. These sentiments reflect the varied reactions surrounding the lunar lander's failure.
