Potential Title: Engine Problems Cast Uncertainty on First US Moon Landing in Half a Century
US private company's Moon mission faces jeopardy after engine issue emerges, casting doubt on the first US moon landing in 50 years
The United States' first attempt to land on the Moon in over 50 years is at risk as a private company's lunar lander encounters an engine issue shortly after launch. Astrobotic Technology launched its Peregrine lander successfully on Monday, but now faces a propulsion problem that requires reorientation of the solar panels to gather more power from the sun.
Astrobotic has raised the concern that a propulsion issue could potentially jeopardize the spacecraft's ability to achieve a successful "soft" landing on the Moon as it is slated to land on February 23. It is important to note that this is an uncrewed vessel being operated remotely.
The final phase of the descent to the Moon is widely regarded as one of the most complex and challenging aspects of the entire mission. For instance, Japan's space agency managed to bring its lunar lander to within 33 feet of the lunar surface in 2023 before losing communication with the craft, leading to the assumption that it had crashed.
No private company has ever successfully landed on the Moon. Astrobotic's spacecraft is currently en route to the Moon via a non-direct path, while Intuitive Machines, another private American company, plans to launch its uncrewed lander into space in February, taking a more direct approach. Both companies aim to land on the Moon around the same time, with the question of which will arrive first remaining unanswered.
NASA has provided significant funding to both companies to support the development of systems for delivering commercial cargo to the Moon. The last time the US successfully landed on the Moon was in December 1972.
Only four countries have ever landed on the Moon--the US, Russia, India, and China. Japan has another spacecraft near the Moon now and it is expected to touch down on the Moon in mid-January.
Editor's P/S
As a hard fan of space exploration, I am both excited and concerned about the potential engine problems that have emerged shortly after the launch of Astrobotic Technology's Peregrine lander. This mission represents a significant milestone in the United States' return to the Moon after a 50-year hiatus, and the news of a propulsion issue casts some uncertainty over the mission's success.
While it is encouraging that Astrobotic has taken prompt action to address the problem by reorienting the solar panels to gather more power, the fact remains that the final phase of the descent to the Moon is notoriously complex and challenging. The fate of Japan's lunar lander in 2023 serves as a sobering reminder of the risks involved in this endeavor. The fact that no private company has ever successfully landed on the Moon adds to the weight of this mission.
