NASA's Groundbreaking Moon Mission Sets Sail with Pioneering Science and Astronauts Aboard

Get exclusive access to CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter and delve into the latest news on groundbreaking discoveries, technological progress, and more. Experience the awe of a groundbreaking new rocket launching the first commercial lander to the moon - a historic mission that marks the first lunar landing to launch from the United States in nearly 50 years.

The United Launch Alliance developed the never-before-flown Vulcan Centaur rocket, a joint venture by Boeing and Lockheed Martin, which was launched at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 2:18 a.m. ET Monday. As it expends its fuel and breaks free from Earth's gravity, the rocket continues its journey through space, carrying the lunar lander called Peregrine to the moon.

Around 3 a.m. ET, the Peregrine spacecraft is anticipated to detach from the rocket, commencing its gradual descent towards the lunar surface. If all goes as planned, the lander is projected to land on the moon on February 23.

Video Ad Feedback

We went to the moon decades ago. Why are we going back?

03:10

- Source:

CNN

Whats on board

Pittsburgh-based company Astrobotic Technology developed the Peregrine landernamed after the falcon that is the fastest-flying bird in the worldunder a contract with NASA.

The space agency invested $108 million in Astrobotic to develop Peregrine and transport NASAs science experiments to the lunar surface.

The space agency is only one of many customers for this mission, with Peregrine set to carry 20 payloads to the moon, including five NASA science instruments and 15 from various other customers.

Several of the payloads are from various nations like Mexico, with additional science experiments. Others comprise a robotics experiment from a private UK-based company and trinkets or mementos curated by the German shipping company DHL.

Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander is encapsulated with Ula's Vulcan rocket.

Astrobotic Technology

The Navajo Nation's protest against the lunar burial of human remains has led to an emergency meeting at the White House. Peregrine, a spacecraft, is transporting the remains for Elysium Space and Celestis, two companies specializing in space burials. This decision has been met with opposition from the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American group in the United States. The group argues that this action would disrespect the sacred nature of the moon in many Indigenous cultures. Celestis offers to transport ashes to the moon for a starting price of over $10,000, as mentioned on their website.

Five NASA-sponsored experiments will be conducted on the moon, with two instruments focused on monitoring the radiation environment in order to prepare for future crewed missions. Other instruments will analyze the lunar soil for water and hydroxyl molecules, as well as study the moons super-thin atmosphere. Peregrine, the spacecraft, is expected to operate on the moon's surface for up to 10 days before its landing site is plunged into darkness, rendering it too cold to continue.

The Vulcan Centaur rocket also carries a separate payload from Celestis, a space burial company, apart from the Peregrine Lander. Named the Enterprise Flight, the mission includes 265 capsules holding human remains and DNA samples from former US presidents John F. Kennedy, George Washington, and Dwight Eisenhower.

The remains on the Enterprise Flight include the creator and multiple cast members from the original Star Trek TV series, as well as an astronaut from the Apollo era, along with individuals from diverse backgrounds, interests, and professions, as stated on the company's website. Philip Chapman, an astronaut selected in 1967 who never had the opportunity to go to space, is among those whose remains are on board the Enterprise Flight. He passed away in 2021.

A new rocket

The excitement of an impending lunar landing attempt aside, the launch of ULAs Vulcan Centaur rocket was an event in its own right.

The rocket is one of the most highly anticipated new vehicles to take flight in years. If the mission is successful, it has the potential to revolutionize ULA and the broader launch industry.

Formed in 2006 to address the US military's need to keep both Boeing's Delta and Lockheed Martin's Atlas rockets operational, ULA now faces a vastly transformed launch industry. In the meantime, SpaceX has emerged as a dominant force, offering lower prices that undercut ULA.

ULA and its CEO, Tory Bruno, envision Vulcan Centaur will replace its Atlas and Delta rockets. Vulcan Centaur already has about 70 missions lined up, according to Bruno.

NASA TV

NASAs most high-risk endeavor in decades and other boundary-pushing space missions planned for 2024

ULA has an exceptional launch record, with very few failed missions. The Vulcan Centaur continues the success of ULAs Atlas rockets by utilizing the same upper stage that propels a spacecraft to orbital speeds after liftoff. However, a significant change has been made to the rockets first stage, which provides the initial burst of power from the launchpad.

The Vulcan Centaur was powered by two side boosters and two US rocket engines developed by Blue Origin, replacing the Russian-made engines that previously powered the Atlas rockets. ULA's reliance on Russian engines had become politically unpopular due to growing tensions between the United States and Russia. Although the debut of Vulcan Centaur was years overdue, it is common in the aerospace industry for companies to miss deadlines.

Blue Origins new engines caused significant delays for ULA, while last year, a Vulcan Centaur upper stage was accidentally destroyed on a test stand. Despite these setbacks, Bruno stated in November that the development of Vulcan Centaur has been one of the most organized and well-executed programs in his lengthy aerospace career.

In the moments after liftoff, the rocket appeared to be operating as intended.