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UpdateBad news for the US’s first commercial lunar lander. The device immediately had problems a few hours after starting up. The company Astrobotic, which developed the Peregrine, reports that an “anomaly” has occurred. On board the lunar lander are measuring devices, but also the remains and genetic materials of 330 people, including several “Star Trek” actors and the murdered American President JFK.
The launch took place at around 8:18 a.m. (Belgium time) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and initially appeared to go smoothly. However, this afternoon at 3:37 p.m., Astrobotic reported an “anomaly” that prevented it from adopting a “stable orientation toward the Sun.”
This seems to indicate that the lunar lander’s solar panels are not receiving enough energy, which could lead to a shutdown. “Our team is working to resolve the issue as it develops,” the startup said. The company promises updates as more information becomes available.
Arrive
The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive on the moon on February 23rd. The target is Sinus Viscositatis, or “Bay of Stickiness,” a place where traces of water molecules can be found. If the mission is successful, Peregrine will be the first American spacecraft to land on the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972, when astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt visited our moon.
The Peregrine was supposed to launch earlier, but during testing there was a problem with the rocket that was supposed to take the lander to the moon.
There are five NASA measuring devices on board the lander. The American space agency paid 98.5 million euros for it. But also the remains of 330 people, including “Star Trek” actors Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura), James Doohan (Scotty) and DeForest Kelley (Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy).
Actress Nichelle Nichols. © kos
An anonymous donor also donated hair of former Presidents George Washington, John F. Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower. However, the mission is primarily intended to practice flying to the moon and the difficult landing there.
The US hopes companies can help build bases on the moon. For example, you can fly cargo. The 2.5 meter wide and almost 2 meter high peregrine falcon can carry a load of 265 kilos.
Failed Japanese attempt
The Peregrine flight is not the first attempt by a commercial space company to land on the moon. Last year, the Japanese company Ispace tried to put a lander on the surface but failed. The ship crashed on the moon and was lost. Only the USA, the Soviet Union, China and India have succeeded in landing landers on the moon.
It won’t be until the end of this year at the earliest that people will fly to the moon and back without landing there. There are three Americans and one Canadian on board. At the end of next year, humans could set foot on the moon again. The four crew members of this flight have not yet been announced.
ALSO WATCH. Will astronauts set foot on the moon again soon? Science expert Martijn Peters explains
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